Homecoming is in full swing Sunday and Yell Like Hell will debut their performances starting Monday.
Kate Nelson, a senior in marketing and co-director of Yell Like Hell, said she and Dane Hansen, a senior in history and co-director of Yell Like Hell, have been working on the event since January.
“It’s a lot of logistics, just getting everything figured out with judges, alumni, putting the whole event together, making sure all the teams know what’s going on, communicating with them, giving them everything that they need,” Nelson said. “We’re just kind of the heart of Yell like Hell.”
According to Hansen, they have reached out to different faculty and community members to be judges for the event and make sure that everyone signs their waivers to participate safely.
Both Hansen and Nelson have been involved in homecoming week in the past and said they enjoyed it so much they wanted to get behind the scenes of Yell Like Hell.
“I just think it’s super unique,” Hansen said. “It kind of breaks people out of their comfort zones, out of their shells a little bit to just go crazy and be, like, super excited about Iowa State.”
Hansen said this event is unique to Iowa State.
“You look across the country, you don’t see very many things like this,” Hansen said.
Furthermore, Nelson said Yell Like Hell is her favorite thing to talk about.
“’I’m not from around here, so going back home and telling them kind of all about it, like, my favorite thing is to pull my phone out and show them a video because you don’t really see that anywhere else,” Nelson said.
Nelson said she loves the high energy that every team brings.
“They’re practicing three times a week and they’re putting in so much effort and energy towards us,” Nelson said. “So it’s just kind of cool to see their progress and see them up on stage.
Damie Edlund, a sophomore in psychology and Spanish and co-chair for the Kappa Kappa Gamma, Alpha Gamma Rho and Theta Xi team for Yell Like Hell, said they drafted a theme, a skit and what they wanted their dances to look like to prepare. She mentioned that the theme for homecoming is “Cy Around the World” and their spin-off of that for their performance is “There’s No Place Like Ames,” a spin on the “Wizard of Oz.”
“We ended up putting together about a five and a half minute skit consistent with five dances, including the fight song, and then led to the overall homecoming theme of around the world, all including Iowa State traditions,” Edlund said.
Edlund said this is her second year being involved in homecoming.
“I’ve just loved meeting new people this year,” Edlund said. “Being on the other side of things has been a lot of fun, too, and know that it’s all going to such a fun community building experience, and I love to be part of that.”
Edlund said people can expect to see a lot of entertainment, fun stunts and creative scripts.
“Every team has been putting together very creative and different things this year, so I myself am excited to see what everyone is bringing to the competition on Monday,” Edlund said.
Edlund said leading this event has given her connections with not only the freshmen in her chapter but also other chapters.
“It’s been really cool to see what this side of things is going to look like and how it’s all going to portray at the end,” Edlund said.
Nelson said the team that wins gets a trophy and “bragging rights,” and the thing they like most is getting painted.
“I guess the main thing is that’s really cool is they get to, like, get all painted from, like, head to toe in house paint,” Nelson said.
Hansen said Yell Like Hell contributes to their homecoming points.
“There’s a community service aspect, where they do food drives, they do different volunteering stuff throughout the week.”
Other activities they participate in include athletic tournaments and banner-making. All of these activities contribute to their homecoming week points.
“There’s a lot of different activities that go into it,” Hansen said. “And just all those things are either judged or competed for, and they get points based on how they work out in the rankings. And then whoever does the best in those events just goes home with a trophy.”
Hansen said alumni come to the events and support.
“They’re more so in just like a ‘wow, we want to come back and see this’ because it’s so unique to Iowa State that they love watching every year,” Hansen said.
According to the Iowa State University Alumni website, here is the schedule of events:
Sunday, October 27:
Painting Victory Lane
- Location: Under Pedestrian Bridge at Stadium Entrance Gate 2
- Time: 9 to 11 a.m.
Kickoff Celebration
- Location: Alumni Center
- Time: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Homecoming/LSI 5K
- Location: Registration at Kickoff Celebration; route TBD
- Time: 1 p.m.
Cardinal Tournaments (Greek)
- Location: Lied Rec Center
- Time: 4 p.m.
Monday, October 28:
Food on Campus
- Jimmy John’s
- Location: Central Campus
- Time: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Faculty/Staff line open 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Yell Like Hell 1st Cuts
- Location: Central Campus
- Time: 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, October 29:
Food on Campus
- Machine Shed (chili & cinnamon rolls)
- Location: Central Campus
- Time: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Faculty/Staff line open 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Cardinal Tournaments (Greek)
- Location: Central Campus
- Time: 7 p.m.
Wednesday, October 30:
Food on Campus (extra activities by Campus Involvement committee)
- Burgers (beef)
- Location: Central Campus
- Time: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Faculty/Staff line open 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Yell Like Hell 2nd Cuts (painted)
- Location: Central Campus
- Time: 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, October 31:
Food on Campus
- Whatcha Smokin (BBQ sandwiches)
- Location: Central Campus
- Time: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Faculty/Staff line open 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Cardinal Tournaments (Greek)
- Location: Lied Recreation Center
- Time: 7 p.m.
Friday, November 1:
Honors & Awards*
- Location: Stephens Auditorium
- Time: 1:30 p.m.
Homecoming Celebration*/Pep Rally/YLH Finals
- Location: Alumni Center
- Time: 5 to 8 p.m. (pep rally begins at 6:45 p.m.)
- Food on Campus at 6 p.m.: Papa John’s
Greek Alumni Reunion*
- Location: Alumni Center, 3rd floor
- Time: 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. (brief program at 6:15 p.m.)
Alumni Band Reunion
- Location: Off-Site TBD
- Time: runs through Nov. 2
ExCytement in the Streets
- Location: Greek Triangle (walking distance from the AC)
- Time: 8 to 10 p.m
CyFest
- Location: Central Campus (YLH stage)
- Time: 10 p.m. to midnight
Fireworks/Mass Campaniling
- Location: Central Campus
- Time: midnight
Edlund said it’s been amazing to see how every single participant has worked so hard.
“We’re so proud of them, and we can’t wait to see all their hard work show off and come to life,” Edlund said.