Western officials are discussing taking more precautions to ensure Homecoming festivities are safe for students next year.

Howard Bailey, vice president for Student Affairs, said Homecoming parade participants next year may be required to have a fire extinguisher on every float.

That idea follows an incident at last week’s Homecoming parade when a float created by FarmHouse and Sigma Nu fraternities and Alpha Omicron Pi sorority caught fire after an electrical short on the float.

Charley Pride, director of student activities and organizations, said a float has never ca

A fraternity is making its way back to Western after a 34-year absence.

Alpha Tau Omega fraternity will return to campus in fall 2010, said Gary Wiser, coordinator of student activities.

ATO was the first fraternity at Western to lose its national charter in 1976 for lack of organization and membership, according to a November 1976 Herald article.

Sounds of singing voices reverberated from Diddle Arena walls as alumni, friends and family celebrated the winners of the National Pan-Hellenic Council Step Show at about 11 p.m. Saturday.
Some steppers cried and others smiled, but all sang along to the hymns of the winning fraternity and sorority.
Last year’s champions Delta Sigma Theta sorority and Alpha [...]

Delta Sigma Theta sorority and Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity won the National Pan-Hellenic Council Step Show tonight.
Both organizations also won last year.
Judge Deanna Coles, a Zeta Phi Beta alum, said both groups were chosen for the execution of their steps and their stage presence.
President of the Alphas, Marcus Steele, said this was his first year [...]

This year marks the 40th anniversary of Kappa Alpha Psi at Western. Howard Bailey, left, vice president of Student Affairs, was the first president of Kappa Alpha Psi while Kenneth Thomas, right, a senior from Lansing, Mich., is its current president. ALBERT CESARE/HERALD

Western officials are taking a new approach to spread the word about study abroad.

Study abroad officials announced last week that Western will have weekly information sessions starting Wednesday for those interested in studying abroad.

The sessions will cover topics including credit transfer, financial aid and available scholarships, according to a Western press release.

From left, Paranormal investigators Chip Gillock, a senior from Franklin, and Patrick Merry, a former Western student from St. Louis, explore an abandoned home off of Louisville Road on Saturday night in search of paranormal activity. BRENDAN SULLIVAN/HERALD

Bowling Green will revisit a former pastime on Saturday during a street fair downtown featuring local businesses.

The fair starts at 8:30 a.m. and lasts all day in Fountain Square Park between Park Street and East Main Avenue.

Phi Gamma Delta’s first year is off to a running start.
The fraternity, called Fiji, will host its first philanthropy, the Rivalry Run, on Friday and Saturday.
The Fijis have teamed up with Pi Kappa Phi fraternity members at Middle Tennessee State University to raise money for the American Red Cross of South Central Kentucky.
The Fijis will [...]

Students took time out of their schedules Thursday to explore study abroad options.

The study abroad fair lasted from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Downing University Center.

Highlights of the fair included a photo contest and a new study abroad option in Egypt and Turkey.

Students talked about their study abroad plans.