By Erin Damio

As Homecoming Weekend approaches, the Northeastern community anticipates celebrating many old and new traditions – including a new campaign for mayor.

The Mayor of Huntington Avenue competition is both old and new. The first student to hold the spot was crowned in 1955, but the tradition was forgotten for 16 years until its revival last year.

The elected student, who serves for one year, acts as a liaison between students and alumni, and works closely with Northeastern leadership to represent the university.

All students at the university are eligible to run for mayor. Candidates are required to write an essay on the topic, “What is the real education you get from the Northeastern experience?”

The election process takes place on the myNEU Web Portal.

The inauguration ceremony for the Mayor of Huntington Avenue is scheduled for Oct. 18 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the newly built Alumni Center, 716 Columbus Place. There will be free food and drinks, live music and giveaways to celebrate the crowning of the mayor.

The mayor receives several prizes, including $150 in Husky Dollars, a $150 gift certificate for the Northeastern Bookstore and complimentary tickets to special alumni relations events.

The inauguration of the Mayor of Huntington Avenue is just the beginning of the events planned for Homecoming Weekend, which also features Parent Weekend. Parents and alumni are encouraged to attend the festivities.

The main event of the week, held Oct. 18, will be a pep rally at 7:30 p.m. in the West Village Quad. Jam’n 94.5 FM radio station will be on hand and the 2006 Beanpot Battle of the Bands champion, Project 1.9, will perform.

For students, there will be a comedy show in Blackman Auditorium on Oct. 20 at 7 p.m., followed by float decorating for the Homecoming parade at midnight at the Snell Library roadway.

For parents and alumni, the university will be offering bingo that night, from 7:30 to 10 p.m.

Sports events scheduled for the week include a men’s soccer game against Delaware at 6 p.m., as well as a volleyball game against William ‘ Mary, a women’s hockey game against Providence and a men’s hockey game at Boston University, all starting at 7 p.m.

The final day of the festivities will feature the Homecoming Carnival at 10 a.m., followed an hour later by the Homecoming Parade, led by the newly-crowned Mayor of Huntington Avenue.

For alumni, a pre-game football tailgate party will begin at the Alumni Center at 11:30, with an all-you-can-eat buffet of hot dogs, hamburgers, chili, chowder and more.

The Homecoming Football game will begin at 2 p.m. at Parsons Field, as the Huskies take on the University of New Hampshire Wildcats. Shuttles will be available to transport students from Forsyth Street to the field.

For a full schedule of the Homecoming 2006 events, students can visit Homecoming2006.neu.edu.