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October 23, 2006
Largest-ever homecoming celebration has something for everyone

BY eric rangus

Each year, Homecoming is a time for the Emory family—alumni, parents, students and faculty—to return to campus and bond as one community. This year’s Homecoming, Oct. 25–29, is the largest ever and includes activities for everyone.

Some events, such as the annual Mr. and Ms. Emory contest on Thursday, Oct. 26, are geared toward students. Alumni-focused events include reunions for the undergraduate classes of 1976, 1981 and 1991. Soccer double headers are scheduled for Friday, Oct. 27 and Sunday, Oct. 29, and a Birdies for Eagles golf tournament in Stone Mountain is planned for the morning of Oct. 27.

Many other events on the Homecoming schedule have broad appeal and are engineered to bring together the University’s many constituencies.

“The Student Programming Council hopes to get as much involvement from undergraduates, graduate students, faculty and alumni as possible,” said Emory College junior Justine Phifer, who, with LeTiffany Obozole, serves as SPC Homecoming co-chair. SPC is the lead student organization planning Homecoming, an operation that includes partners like the Association of Emory Alumni (AEA) and the Department of Athletics.

“We have been working closely with the AEA to make Homecoming Week appealing to alumni who have been long gone, and we would love to have them return to Emory with sentiment,” Phifer continued.
“Homecoming Week is one of the main times we promote school spirit and since we don’t have a football team, we want people to get excited about the soccer games as well as the entire week’s activities.”

With the idea of “school spirit” in mind, the vast majority of Homecoming events lean toward social gathering. From a pancake breakfast preceding the Eagles’ soccer games against Case Western on Sunday, Oct. 29; to the second-annual Jake’s Open House Halloween Party on Friday night, Oct. 27; to Saturday afternoon’s Tavern on the Green alumni/student networking party on McDonough Field followed by concert headliner Reel Big Fish, the schedule is teeming with opportunities to mix and mingle.

And with that mix and mingle is going to be some flash. At least that’s what SPC was thinking about when it came to developing a Homecoming theme.

“Homecoming is traditionally a more formal week than Dooley’s Week, and the [Homecoming] Ball is more dressy and sophisticated,” said Phifer. “That makes the ‘Hollywood’ theme really appropriate. We’re thinking ‘glitz and glamour.’ We’re also happy we chose a theme that allows us to do some creative publicity.”

“Working on a team with the students and the athletics department has been tremendous,” said Gloria Grevas, assistant director for reunions and the AEA’s Homecoming lead. “I think it’s resulted in a schedule packed with excitement. Not only will alumni enjoy coming home to campus see how much has changed, they’ll also see how alive Emory is. Plus, I think staff and faculty will be energized by all the fun things they can do.”

To see the full Homecoming 2006 schedule and to register, visit www.alumni.emory.edu/2006/homecoming/schedule.htm.

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