Baker University’s homecoming celebration will bring a week full of activities for students interested in “Turning up the Heat, Burning up the Field,” starting Monday.

Director of Student Activities Shelby Coxon said she encourages students to get involved in homecoming activities.

“Homecoming gives students a healthy balance of campus unity and competition,” Coxon said. “It promotes pride in Baker and pride in your organization.”

For homecoming competitions, fraternities and sororities pair up to make four teams, and the independents work together as a fifth team. Homecoming activities will commence Monday with team mixers and will culminate Saturday with the football game and dance at the Salt Mine. The coronation of the homecoming king and queen will be at halftime of the football game.

The Phi Mu sorority’s queen candidate, Tracie Spring, said she is excited to have been chosen by her sisters.

“It’s really an honor to have been selected,” Spring said. “Win or lose, I’m just glad to have the chance to represent Phi Mu and Baker.”

At team mixers Monday evening, teams will have the opportunity to plan for the events of the week.

Junior Kelly Vaughn, who is the president of Interhall Council, said she thinks organizing for competitions is harder for the independents because of their large number.

“We make up about 50 percent of the campus,” Vaughan said. “I just really want to see a lot of people at the meeting so we can get organized and compete well.”

Although many of the events are competitive, Coxon said she does not think Baker students take homecoming activities too far.

“I’ve worked at other schools where it can get pretty nasty,” she said. “Of course there’s always going to be someone saying, ‘I bet they cheated.’ Here at Baker, I think most of the students handle themselves well, though.”