It’s Homecoming Week. Students can expect big-name entertainment from Common and N.E.R.D. at Friday’s Pack Howl concert, free food at Wear Red, Get Fed and a game against ACC rival Boston College.

Yet it does not feel like Homecoming Week.

Pack Howl Chair Jeff Gray said ticket sales for the concert are not quite as high as last year, despite the big-name performers the University scheduled for the event at an estimated cost of $40,000 to $55,000.

Homecoming Week is early this year. But this does not excuse the tired sense of school spirit on campus. The Homecoming Committee can raise student excitement and attract sponsors. If the committee wants to be able to spend money and get a nationally recognizable talent for the Pack Howl concert, it must improve how it publicizes Homecoming Week.

So far, Homecoming’s biggest draws are the kickoff concert and Wear Red, Get Fed. Jai Kumar, publicity chair for the Homecoming Committee, said about 2,500 people showed up to the concert at the start of Homecoming Week and Wear Red, Get Fed has run out of food both times this week. Yet these events are obvious draws for students – people like free food. Kumar said this year’s budget was about $15,000. Jeramy Blackford, director of student membership and marketing, estimated about $10,000 went to publicity last year.

Caitlin Garrison, Homecoming Committee chair, said publicity has been a problem this year. A large number of students have been getting involved in spirit competitions, but not as many general students are involved in planning and running Homecoming events, she said.

These are not new problems. Adam Compton, publicity chair for Homecoming Committee last year, said getting all students involved is key, especially with planning. Compton also said students not on the Homecoming Committee generated last year’s “Crush the Cavs” theme at the open meeting at the end of the 2006 spring semester.

Homecoming is an opportunity for all students to get involved on campus and build a strong sense of school spirit. However, the Homecoming Committee did not repeat last year’s success – it used more money and failed to build up student hype.

The committee has two choices: it can give the tasks of finding sponsors and getting students fired up to separate subcommittees, or it can pick up the planning and learn from last year.