Starting Sunday, students at Grand Valley State University can click the heels of their shoes together for Homecoming events—but only if they’re wearing ruby red slippers.

Marvis Herring, who graduated last spring, submitted this year’s theme of anything Oz with the slogan “There’s no place like the Valley.”

“The events through the week are inspired by all movies that encompass ‘The Wizard of Oz’ in some capacity,” said Chelsea Pulice, Homecoming adviser in the Office of Student Life.

Ellerie Ambrose, coordinator of Homecoming events for the Laker Traditions Team, said anything Oz is acceptable.

“The Wizard of Oz is the easier aspect of the Oz theme because it is the most common in terms of decorations and costumes, but anything Oz is accepted and greatly encouraged,” Ambrose said.

Planning and execution of Homecoming was a team effort between multiple student organizations on campus.

“We have tried to incorporate the involvement of other organizations on campus using their unique talents to contribute to the Homecoming spirit throughout the week,” Ambrose said. “For example, the National Art Education Association is heading up the transformation of 20/20 (information desk) into the house that fell on the wicked witch this Saturday.”

Events for Homecoming this year will begin Oct. 13 and will run until the football game against Northern Michigan University on Oct. 19.

The Office of Student Life will also be hosting a ruby red slipper hunt Sunday through Thursday. Fifteen pairs of red slippers will be hidden around the Allendale Campus, the Pew Campus and various satellite campuses. Clues for the locations of the slippers will be posted on the Student Life website on Sunday. Students can send in a photo of them with the slippers to [email protected].

The pictures will then be posted on the web page so other students will no longer search in that location. Slippers should be turned into the Office of Student Life in 1110 Kirkhof Center. Students without teams are encouraged to look for slippers, but team members who find the slippers will be awarded 20 points for their team. Slipper searchers are encouraged to wear Oz-festive attire in their pictures with the shoes.

Festivities will officially begin with this year’s Homecoming games: the “Oz-lympics.” The games will be hosted from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday at the Kelly Family Sports Center. Broom racing, munchkin tug of war, Tin Man relays and apple tree shot put will all be played in a bracket-style organization.

Team captains are responsible for assigning members of their teams to each event, keeping in mind that some of the times of the events will overlap. All of the events have some level of physical risk that participants must acknowledge when they sign a waiver before the games. Brooms, ropes, apples and Tin Man outfits will all be provided to participants.

Throughout the week, Student Senate will also be hosting its annual T-shirt swap. Students can bring their old high school—and even other university—T-shirts to the Senate table in the Kirkhof lobby and trade them in for a GVSU t-shirt.

Senate members will donate the T-shirts students trade in and will have a table in Kirkhof on Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Wednesday from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Thursday from 2:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.

Thursday night, Steve Aoki with Autoerotique will be in the Fieldhouse at 8 p.m. for all students, faculty, staff and alumni. Tickets for students are $10 at the 20/20 information desk before Oct. 14. After then, tickets are $15.

Homecoming teams will also participate in the canned food sculpture contest on Oct. 18. The contest will be held all over campus, and judging will begin at 2 p.m. The football game will begin at 7 p.m. Oct. 19 in Lubbers Stadium.

For more information and a complete list of events visit, www.gvsu.edu/studentlife/homecoming.