Despite a disappointing turnout for lackluster Homecoming week activities last year, Ellen King is hopeful that this year will mark the beginning of a new era for Syracuse University’s fall festivities.
King, who joined the student affairs department as Director of Student Events in June, says that the events so far this week have been well-attended, despite an admitted lack of publicity and a tight planning schedule.
“Because I started here in June, we didn’t have a lot of time to plan, but we managed to come up with a week-long schedule of events,” King said. “We started off on Sunday with the O.A.R. concert, and that was sold out.”
Margaret Cho was here on Tuesday, and there were over a thousand students to see her. More than 550 students won T-shirts in the Schine Atrium Wednesday, and over 400 students attended the Greek talent night.
“The plan was to include traditional events, but to give them a twist,” King said. “We are having the traditional pep rally Friday night, but the student group Penguins Without Pants is going to emcee,and the SU Dance Team will perform.”
King is pleased with what she and her steering committee, made up of both students and staff, have been able to accomplish in a short time this year, but she is already looking forward to Homecoming week next year.
“We want the alumni that came back for Homecoming each year to see that a lot is happening on campus,” said Lil O’Rourke, associate vice president of alumni relations. “When the university hired Ellen, they were acknowledging that Homecoming is important not only for the alumni, but for the students, as well.”
Homecoming has been viewed as a mostly Greek event by many students, and some aren’t convinced that King, even with her credentials from working at places such as RollingStone.com, Mp3.com and Comedy Central, has what it takes to recreate a Homecoming atmosphere that is enjoyed by everyone.
“Once apathy strikes, it’s chronic and this school is plagued by it,” said Lauren Ober, a graduate journalism student.
University officials, however, are hopeful that a combination of student and alumni events will put the spark back into Homecoming.
This year, alumni can register for granite pavers that will have their names engraved. The pavers will be placed in what will be known as “The Orange Grove,” a garden that is planned to be just outside of Bowne Hall. The first orders will be taken this weekend, and those that register by January 31, 2003 will see their names in place by Homecoming 2003.
“The Orange Grove will be like a plaza,” O’Rourke said. “It will be a place for faculty, alumni, and students to have their names in granite, and it will be a place where people can gather and remember their time here.”
This week also marks the first Flag Football Homecoming Cup Championships for men and women.
Nadine Essel, assistant director for Recreation Services for intramurals, is pleased with the number of men’s teams participating, but she is unsure of how many students will turn out for the championship game, which will be at 4 p.m. on Sunday, at the Women’s Building Field. There was room for eight men’s teams and eight women’s teams.
“Unfortunately, only one women’s team signed up, but we have eight men’s teams that are competing for the championship,” Essel said. ”We wanted to try something new, and get people involved in Homecoming. This is the first year, but we are hoping that it really will be an annual event that will go on, well, forever.”
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