Not even news of a violent tiger could spoil the magical tradition of hypnosis that falls upon the University each year during Homecoming week.

The only change in this year’s mystical agenda will be the absence of hypnotist Tom Deluca, the University’s long-time stand-by.

“Tom Deluca has been a Homecoming tradition forever,” said Mitch Birnbaum, a senior from Marietta. “It was fun to watch the crazy stuff he made people do. It was even more fun seeing those people the next day on campus.”

Birnbaum, who saw Deluca’s show two years in a row, said the hypnotist was repetitive in his routine.

“He did the same stuff that he did the year before, just with different people,” Birnbaum said. “It would be cool if this new guy was just as good or better.”

The University Union, which organizes Homecoming activities, invited Dale K, a younger, more comedy-influenced hypnotist, for this year’s show.

“Tom Deluca has come for the past 10 years,” said Nathan Copeland, a senior from Memphis and the University Union president. “It’s just a matter of the entertainment division wanting to do something different.”

The University Union heard from other schools, including Western Kentucky and UNC, that Dale K’s show would include more comedy, Copeland said.

Jennifer Ruth, the entertainment coordinator for University Union, had a chance to meet Dale K before the committee invited him.

“We’re excited to have a new point of view,” Ruth said. “He has the comedy angle and the hypnosis angle.”

For some students, the hypnotist is only half of the entertainment.

“I’m a firm believer that hypnosis is fake,” said Dave Hanson, a freshman from Springfield. “I’m only going to see people act a fool.”