Candidates for Homecoming royalty will be handing out candy around campus this week as they try to garner votes for the contest.
Others are getting more creative. Megan Downey and David Johnson, candidates from the Ball State University Singers organization, dressed in flashy costumes and stood at the Scramble Light from 11 a.m. to noon, passing out business cards to promote their Homecoming candidacy.
Johnson claims that he's engaged with student voters.
"Vote for someone who actively campaigned and tried to get to know you," he said.
University Singers began about 50 years ago when Ball State Teachers College was renamed Ball State University. At the time, the Department of Music proposed a new organization in honor of the university. The organization has actively grown since then, and has traveled to China and even the White House.
"It's more than just on campus and more than just Muncie, but you have to represent Ball State wherever you go," Downey said.
Johnson and Downey will be campaigning all week at the Scramble Light, dressing in different costumes and trying to get to know students around campus.
The 2010 Homecoming king and queen were John Towle of Alpha Tau Omega and Morgan Smith of Chi Omega. Towle became the first of his fraternity to win the honor in its 28-year history.
Towle said it was "an absolute blast," and he offered advice to this year's candidates.
"You can't be shy, but you've got to break out of your shell and be as outgoing as you can," he said.
Online voting takes place Monday through Friday. A link is available on the Ball State website by searching the word "Homecoming" and then clicking on the first link on the page.
The online site allows students to vote for up to three candidates in each of the four categories: king, queen, faculty king and faculty queen.
There are 45 candidates for queen and 40 candidates for king.
The top 10 Homecoming candidates will be announced Sept. 21.
Homecoming adviser Michele Johnson said that short biographies were listed for each candidate. However, the advisory board has dropped the biographies because not every candidate listed information when given the opportunity.
She said eliminating this section from the voting page allows for a more fair competition. However, she suggests candidates promote themselves as much as possible.
This year's theme is "It's a bird ... It's a game ... It's Homecoming!" The comic book theme will give students the opportunity to show off childhood enthusiasm while dressing up in their favorite superhero attire.
The Homecoming football game will take place Oct. 8, when Ball State hosts Temple at 2 p.m. The winners of the Homecoming royalty contest will be announced at halftime.
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