Bright lights. One stage. 100 percent confidence required.

The Illini Union Board African American Homecoming Pageant will be showcased on Thursday, Oct. 8, at 7 p.m. in the Illini Rooms at the Illini Union, 1401 W. Green St., in Urbana.

“Our responsibility, as the board, is to get students exposed to different cultures – to interact with others and to embrace other communities that they inevitably will come in contact with,” said Obaid Sarvana, Illini Union Board president and senior in Engineering. “The entire week of events is a celebration of African American culture and community.”

As far back as the 1970s, the University has been playing host to the African American homecoming events, he said. While the African American Homecoming Pageant itself grew out of the homecoming dance, it crowns Mr. and Ms. U of I. The pageant is part of a series of events that the Illini Union Board presents to the entire student body.

“It’s the best way to bring students together,” Sarvana said. “All the events are open to all of the campus. It’s called African American because it’s a celebration of that culture. The IUB Board is committed to diversity.”

Nicole Banks, senior in LAS, said she appreciates the idea that the African American Homecoming Pageant centers around the African American culture.

“Being a smaller community on campus, it’s nice to have events that appeal to our interest, but it’s not exclusive against other groups,” she said. “In my opinion, it’s nice to have that community to relate to.”

University students competing for the title of Mr. or Ms. U of I will be illustrating their talent, as well as their exuberant personalities, for the audience and judges in Thursday’s pageant.

The African American Homecoming Pageant is popular, but not as popular as the fashion show, Banks said. Many University students, however, hardly even know about this event during homecoming week.

“I have seen posters up around the union, but I don’t know much about it,” said Evangelia Tsipas, sophomore in Engineering.

Being able to expose students to different cultures and perspectives is the main mission of the pageant, Sarvana said .

“I really don’t know anything about it [the African American Homecoming Pageant],” said Teresa Tufte, junior in LAS. “I’ve had friends go in the past, but I’ve never been.”

The goal of providing programming to the students is merely one element to the overall importance of these homecoming activities, Sarvana said. Once the students enter the workplace, they will have to interact with tolerance towards others. These homecoming events prepare University students for the real world encounters with others of various backgrounds, races and ethnicities, he added. The Board is attempting to bring a unity of the student body beyond racial culture, Sarvana said.

“We should have something specifically for African Americans,” Banks said. “The purpose of the pageant is to appeal to us as a group.”