With the Halloween theme –“NU has the Willies” — one thing students won’t have to fear this upcoming Homecoming week is boredom.

During the week, Homecoming will offer more events to involve new students, and returning students will see an improved quality, said Homecoming chairman Bryan Tolles, a Weinberg senior.

New events include discounts and giveaways from restaurants and a bonfire Tuesday on the Lakefill.

For the first time Homecoming festivities are fully student-run, Tolles said. That responsibility for students was done partly in hopes the campus would care more, said Education junior Amanda Janulis, parade co-chairwoman.

“Homecoming has been notorious for not being spirited, but we’re hoping to change that this year,” Janulis said.

The executive board of the Homecoming committee still worked with the Alumni Association to plan the week’s activities.

One returning event is the Homecoming parade at 8 p.m. Friday night. It starts at Chicago Avenue and Sheridan Road and continues to Sheridan Road and Lincoln Street. Judges will be in front of the Technological Institute.

“We’re hoping to get more freshman involved this year,” said Weinberg sophomore Emily Lieberman, the parade committee’s other co-chairwoman. The committee has been working to do this via increasing advertising.

But getting more students involved has its obstacles, Janulis said.

Janulis said organizers fear Homecoming’s overlap with Halloween weekend will affect involvement, especially with the parade.

Although last year more than 20 floats participated in the parade, this year only 13 signed up, Janulis said.

Anna Crane, the Homecoming chairwoman for Alpha Chi Omega and a Medill sophomore, said despite Halloween her sorority is motivated and excited for the parade. She said she hopes a large number of students will support the parade regardless of it being Halloween weekend.

But Sarah Monteith, the Homecoming chairwoman for Kappa Delta, which is constructing a float with fraternity Phi Kappa Psi, said she noticed a drop in numbers because of the holiday conflict.

“Interest has dwindled this year,” Monteith, a Communication sophomore, said. “A lot of people are going to Madison (Wis.) instead.”

Although there are fewer floats, the Homecoming parade did expand this year beyond only fraternities and sororities. Janulis said Dance Marathon and Special Olympics are both showcasing floats in this year’s parade.

Janulis also said Halloween has made it harder to find judges for the floats. Right now the judges are Vice President for Student Affairs William Banis and Director of Alumni Relations Aspasia Apostolakis.

Janulis said her committee is still looking for a professor to fill the third judge spot.

Tolles said he looks forward to the newest event, Buff Puff Football, a flag-football game involving teams from each class. The winning class will receive gift certificates and be featured on their own float

Reach Corrie Driebusch at [email protected].

Quick facts:

Students can use their WildCARD today to recieve discounts throughout Evanston:

 15 percent off at Mt. Everest (618 Church St.) and

Camille’s Sidewalk Cafe (1741 Sherman Ave.)

 20 percent off Lou Malnati’s Pizza (1850 Sherman Ave.)

 Free drink with purchase of a burrito at Chipotle (711

Church St.)

 Halloween candy at The Rock from ll a.m. to 2 p.m.