Hello Walk painted for Northern homecoming

To kick off homecoming week at Montana State University-Northern, many organizations and clubs painted a step on the "Hello Walk" Tuesday.

The repainting of the Hello Walk is a tradition at the university in which, every year during homecoming, the steps outside of the Student Union Building get a facelift from the wear and tear it experienced during the year before.

The steps are named the Hello Walk because it more or less connects the colleges at the university that do not mingle often and students say "hello" to one another on it or, at least, are urged to.

Andrew Potter, president of the Associated Students of MSU-Northern, said he was painting a step for ASMSU-N.

He said the painting of the steps is a good way to begin the celebrations for homecoming, as well as opening the elections for homecoming king and queen.

The students will have until Thursday to vote for their choice of king and queen and the freshman ambassadors to Student Senate. The candidates for king and queen are representatives from the clubs and organizations of Northern - many of which were out painting Tuesday.

Maureen Murdock of the Diesel Racing Club is representing her club by running for homecoming queen and was painting a step near the top of the staircase with other club members.

She said her fairly new club is shaping up nicely as they pursue more community involvement and more sponsorship.

"And a Cummins engine," she added, laughing.

Eric Neal was painting a step with the Student Ambassadors. The club is in charge of much of the homecoming celebrations and they will be the spearhead of the events.

Today, they are painting N's around the Northern football practice field to get it ready for the homecoming football game against Southern Oregon University Saturday.