From car bashing to a wing-eating contest to Uncle Rico and Pedro, this year's Spirit Week will try to kindle campus energy leading up to Saturday's homecoming football game against Akron.
Spirit Week starts on Oct. 3 and will feature a variety of events each day all week.
SA President Dela Yador said Spirit Week not only gets students revved up for the football game, but it also gets the students fired up for the school year.
"This year's spirit week will be the best one in recent UB history, students should definitely come out and show their school spirit and expect some surprises as well," Yador said.
Monday's events kick off with a window-painting contest and club fair.
For the window-painting contest, student clubs and organizations will paint the large windows in the lobby of the Student Union and show their spirit for UB Athletics as well as their own organizations.
Window painting will be accompanied by free pizza served in the Student Union Monday afternoon.
In anticipation of Saturday's game, students can help demolish an Akron Zip's car in this year's traditional Car Cruncher, starting at 12 p.m. on Monday.
For some students, this is a golden opportunity to let out some pent-up stress and aggression.
"I am to-the-max excited about being able to tomahawk-chop some random vehicle with a sledgehammer," said Andrew Harrington, a sophomore film studies major. "I've pretty much been dreaming of this moment since I was a fetus."
The Gladiator Joust Tournament, which runs from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, tests the participant's strength and agility. Organizations will send representatives from their clubs to battle it out in a gladiator-style joust.
"Jousting is a timeless event, so I think it should go over very well with students," said Jean-Pierre Bell, a sophomore media arts major.
There will also be a rock-climbing contest from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. for the clubs to earn more points.
Thursday opens with the homecoming king and queen forum starting at 11 a.m. with open discussions between the contestants. Students can enter the contest by filling out a preliminary application from the SA offices. Jon Gries and Efren Ramirez, who played Uncle Rico and Pedro in the hit movie "Napoleon Dynamite," will crown the king and queen at halftime during next Saturday's football game.
Also on Thursday, students can test their gastrointestinal fortitude in a wing-eating contest or a pie-eating contest, both of which start at 1:15 p.m. in the Student Union. If you like wings and pie, this is the perfect opportunity to eat a big meal for free.
"All of my life pie eating has been a passion," said Andrew Rivera, a sophomore business administration major. "I am looking forward to showing everyone how it's done."
With the popularity of chicken wings in the Buffalo area, this event proves to be one of the most popular with the students. Each participant will test his or her wing-eating ability in the Student Union Lobby.
SA organizers said Friday's carnival, held near the University Bookstore, is the most anticipated event. The carnival will include various games, free food and live entertainment.
"I'm psyched about the carnival," said Loretta Muntz, a junior nursing major. "How often can I attend an event for free that has cool games like Goldfish and Flower City? You'd have to be a complete dork not to attend on Friday."
Spirit week will culminate in a tailgate party before the homecoming game, where students can get some free food and get pumped for the game.
" Spirit week is one of the busiest weeks," said SA Treasurer Mazin Kased. "With a lot of rides, food and car smashing I think students will be attracted on their own and my job as a treasurer is to make sure the students will have fun and enjoyment."
Photo: Courtesy of Matthew Messina, from the RMBERS' Instagram page
