Homecoming Week kicked off Sunday, and Homecoming Committee chair Caitlin Garrison, a senior in design, said changes to events this year will make them better for participants.

In spirit challenges all week, groups will get points for having members participate in different Homecoming activities, but Garrison said in the past, participation was counted by tallies, so students did not have to be honest about affiliations.

To prevent these situations, Garrison said students will have to give their name, and Homecoming representatives will have lists to check their memberships, “to keep things a little more fair,” she said.

Jeff Gray, chair of Homecoming’s Pack Howl pep rally, said students have been slower to buy tickets for this year’s concert.

“I think numberwise, we’re just under what we did last year,” he said.

This year’s concert will feature hip-hop artist Common and alternative hip-hop group N.E.R.D. at Reynolds Coliseum Friday. Last year’s Pack Howl hosted the bands Guster and the Avett Brothers.

Gray said students may be learning about the concert later this year, but those planning Homecoming are finding ways to get students involved.

“We had auditions for two student groups to perform for the pep rally performances,” he said. “We’ve chosen a step team, Alpha Phi Alpha, and also Fusion. We’re also going to honor one nonrevenue sports team that we think deserves it.”

Seating was a problem with last year’s concert, Gray said.

“We’re trying to get as many people as we can on the floor,” he said. “Last year, we had chairs down there, and it kind of limited the number we could have. Not having chairs down there I think could get more people in [with fire code restrictions].”

At $10 for a student ticket, Gray said this is the cheapest way for students to see Common and N.E.R.D. together.

Tickets for the Pack Howl will be available at all Homecoming activities this week, as well as the Alumni Association’s Web site, Garrison said.

Students interested in participating can go to Wear Red, Get Fed in the Brickyard this week, beginning at 11 a.m. Monday.

Garrison also said there are high expectations for this year’s homecoming parade, since last year’s was rained out.

“It’s really detailed getting permits for that,” she said. “Student organizations spent a lot of time and money getting their floats together. It was a really big disappointment, so hopefully we won’t have rain this year.”