ISU students and alumni are “Livin’ the Dream” this week.

Kurt Beyer, Student Alumni Leadership Council adviser, said Homecoming is a chance for the university to bring students and alumni together.

“It encourages everyone to come back for one special weekend,” Beyer said.

Kaitlyn Wiener, senior in food science-Human Sciences and general co-chair of Homecoming Central Committee, said Iowa State has traditions that make its Homecoming special.

“Lawn displays is really unique to our campus,” she said.

Beyer said many of this year’s Homecoming events are student-focused and stem from those that happen every year.

“They’ve come out of tradition,” Beyer said. “Things like Yell Like Hell and lawn displays have been going on for decades.”

From getting food on campus to the Battle of the Bands, to ExCytement in the Streets, Wiener said, “It’s a good way for people to get involved.”

In order to also get the alumni involved, the Student Alumni Association has organized tailgates for both before and after this weekend’s game.

Wiener said this year’s theme, “Livin’ the Dream,” means something to both students and alumni.

The dream that has finally become a reality for Iowa State’s alumni is the new ISU Alumni Center, 420 Beach Ave., which was recently completed. After 30 years of planning, the facility was built to accommodate ISU Alumni Association staff, alumni and students’ programs. The center will be offically dedicated at 3 p.m. on Saturday.

Last year, Weiner said, the theme was “Building on Traditions,” and this year it is about looking to the future.

“It fits into the whole new Alumni Center dedication,” Wiener said. “It’s been a dream for the alumni to come back to.”

For some students, the theme “Livin’ the Dream,” means taking part in the traditions of Iowa State.

Abby Mollenhauer, junior in pre-journalism and mass communication and the other Homecoming Central Committee general co-chair, said Yell Like Hell skits portray the way students relate to the theme.

“They claim they’re living the dream,” she said. “When they get to do all these traditions, like campaniling … and learning not to step on the zodiac; their pride in ISU is tied to being able to do [those traditions].”