Back when we were all in high school, Homecoming meant something exciting.

There were the different days during the week when everyone was supposed to dress crazily — whether it be wearing all your clothes backwards or dressing in 1950s garb.

There was the all-important Homecoming dance, which at some schools meant an all-out formal and at others meant a casual sock hop. And there was the pep rally the day of the big game, during which the Homecoming king and queen — people everyone either loved or hated — were announced to the students.

And, of course, there was the football game, where all the cool, older college kids came back, and the team was assured a win.

At Iowa State, Homecoming is a little different.

There’s no king and queen. There’s no big dance.

Alumni who come home to Ames aren’t the “cool college kids” that you idolized in high school; they’re just alumni, who have to be out in the real world, holding down real jobs.

And the football game definitely won’t be an easy win, what with facing 12-ranked Texas.

But even though it isn’t what it was in high school, ISU’s Homecoming can still be fun for the whole student body.

There’s plenty to do this week, in all sorts of different categories.

If you want to be charitable, there’s the Habitat for Humanity Blitz Build, in which students will build a house for underprivileged families.

If you want to eat lunch out on campus, there’s pizza and pop south of the Campanile today from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

If you want to get dressed up for a pre-Halloween costume party, there’s a concert and party in the Great Hall of the Memorial Union Thursday night.

If you want to meet new people in an intimate way, there’s mass Campaniling and fireworks at midnight Friday morning.

If you want to enjoy a good parade, there’s the Step Off Parade at 5:15 p.m. Friday followed by a pep rally and Yell Like Hell on central campus.

Of if you want to see some good sports action, there are Homecoming Tournaments all week. There’s the hockey game Friday night at Hilton Coliseum, there’s the Cyclone Shoot Out Saturday evening, and there’s the Homecoming football game Saturday at 11:30 a.m.

During most of the year, Iowa State is severely lacking in school spirit.

But this week, we the students have no excuse not to be true to our school and show some spirit.

Get out there, and get involved. Help make ISU’s Homecoming something to be proud of.

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Iowa State Daily Editorial Board: Sara Ziegler, Greg Jerrett, Kate Kompas and Carrie Tett.