2015 Homecoming King and Queen Diontae Cannon and Si-Arah McCray along with Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs Jim McHodgkins, cut a cake at Gumbo YaYa decorated with road trip designs for Homecoming.
Tamara Alexander/The Lion's Roar
Students and faculty gathered together at the Student Union War Memorial Park for 2016 Gumbo Ya Ya to eat gumbo and have fun.
The event had all of the previous attractions that are expected each year, but also some new additions were brought to Gumbo Ya Ya this year.
“I think it was a success,” said Campus Activities Board Events and Operations Manager Julie Entremont. “Especially since we spiced things up this year. We had stuff-a-lion, personalized license plates, rides, cupcakes and of course, like always, gumbo. Gumbo Ya Ya is one of our traditional events. It happens every year on Wednesday during Homecoming Week.”
The stuff-a-lion is new to Gumbo Ya Ya. It was first introduced by CAB at Strawberry Jubilee earlier this year.
“Due to the great turnout we had at Strawberry Jubilee, I wanted to do the activity again,” said Entremont. “I don’t know what it is about stuffing your own mascot, but students love it. The turnout for stuff-a-lion was once again more than we imagined.”
Freshman students were able to go to their first Gumbo Ya Ya and get to taste the university’s gumbo.
“It’s been good,” said Raeleigh Joshlin, a freshman communication major. “I don’t really eat other people’s gumbo. I’m picky, but I like their gumbo.”
Upperclassmen see the event as a chance to break away from homework and studying for midterms to have a chance to relax.
“It’s just a way for everyone to get together and have a meal together, and it’s free,” said Zach Cuny, a graduate student in sociology. “I plan on doing that thing where you make your own lion. It all looks pretty nice.”
During Gumbo Ya Ya, the Homecoming Court came from the Student Union Theatre to be announced to the crowd. The new King and Queen were announced during the Homecoming Game at halftime.
“I just love the atmosphere and the students connecting together,” said 2015 Homecoming King Diontae Cannon. “As a student, I was focused more on gumbo, but as a Homecoming King, it makes you appreciate everything that Southeastern does for the students. I’m looking forward to see who wins King and Queen.”
Unaware that she would be crowned 2016 Homecoming Queen, Maggie Hinson felt the difference in being on Homecoming Court and attending Gumbo Ya Ya.
“It’s definitely different,” said Hinson. “Up there on the Student Union Theatre everybody looking at you, I was shaking, but down here I can mingle and be myself. As a Homecoming Court member, I want to be the best student I can be and represent at sports, events and stuff like this. I feel like it’s really good that we can come to stuff and represent.”