skits that go along with the homecoming theme while adding in an improvisation and impressing the crowd.

On Oct. 16, the Pep Rally took place at 7 p.m. in the Looney main gym. Performances were seen from the Golden Griffon Marching Band and drumline, the Mystics dance team, the cheerleaders and the flag team. Also, the Goofy Griff competition took place. Numerous members of various organizations competed with dance, song and entertainment for the title. Sophomore Ambra Garton, who dances for the Mystics, looked forward to the pep rally all week.

“You get to see everyone’s school spirit and get to see some of the football players’ dancing ability,” Garton said. The winner of Goofy Griff went to Sigma Sigma Sigma. After the pep rally, the spirit squads and band led the school down to the bonfire which took place by the football field. At the bonfire, a cardboad mule was lowered into the flames to signify the beating UCM would receive from the Griffons at the homecoming game the following day.

On Oct. 17, the homecoming parade started at 9:30 a.m. downtown. Despite the chilly weather, all spirit squads and band members marched in the parade along side all organizational members and high school bands. The parade was followed by a post parade party in Blum Union. Kickoff to the homecoming game was at 1:30 p.m. Following the third quarter the homecoming court was introduced and the winners were announced. The new king, Luke Akers, was represented by Sigma Sigma Sigma and Queen Kayla Kelder was represented by the Psychology department.

The overall winners of homecoming week were Phi Delta Theta, followed by Alpha Gamma Delta. Third place went to Sigma Sigma Sigma. just wanted someone to talk to,” Renzi said. “So I placed a personal ad since I was new to the [gay] scene.”

Renzi then took the audience back to the day his parents discovered he was gay. With his mother in the audience he described coming home to find his parents waiting to confront what his mother had found; a note from a man responding to the ad he had placed. Though Renzi continued to deny his sexuality he and his parents decided he should go away to college rather than start a second year at the local community college.

“I choose Rutgers University in New Jersey,” Renzi said. “It was close to New York and we all know there are lots of gay people in New York, or at least one or two.”

After arriving at Rutgers Renzi quickly jumped into what he described as the stereotypical gay scene by marching for gay rights, wearing the typical rainbow emblem and joining gay activist organizations to embrace his sexuality. He admits he went over the top and with the advice of a close friend he learned to just enjoy being himself and who he was.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re gay or straight, lesbian or transgender or still trying to figure it all out,” Renzi said. “Just be yourself, be who you are, be what makes you happy and you will be happy.”

Although there were approximately only 15 people in Kemper Recital Hall for the event, Renzi confessed afterward during an interview that he enjoys speaking to small crowds.

“Being able to address a small crowd is so much less distracting,” Renzi said. “I have seen packed halls where students are coming and going but to be able to have more of an intimate setting I can really see the student’s reactions to what I am saying.”

Missouri Western student Sarah Allee, who also helped bring Renzi to campus, felt it was important for student to hear his story of coming out as well as his perspective of being gay in America.

“Dan enjoys life,” Allee said. “He is a wonderful person who has taught me that being yourself isn’t really that bad.”