SU Homecoming Weekend 2006 to feature concert by All American Rejects, new ‘Cuse Commotion

SU Homecoming Weekend 2006 to feature concert by All American Rejects, new ‘Cuse CommotionSeptember 27, 2006Carol K. Masiclatclkim@syr.edu

Syracuse University will generate some serious commotion on the Hill as it recognizes and welcomes back its alumni for Homecoming Weekend 2006, Oct. 6-8. This year’s Homecoming celebrates the classes of 1976, 1981, 1986, 1996 and 2006.

For a complete schedule of events and the latest information on Homecoming Weekend 2006, visit http://homecoming.syr.edu or e-mail suhomecoming@yahoo.com.

“We are looking forward to another exciting weekend as we continue our collaboration with Student Affairs, the Traditions Commission and SU Athletics. To make it a truly University-wide event, we are engaging all alumni and students and the whole SU community,” says Andrea Latchem, recently named assistant vice president for alumni relations. “We are also thrilled to have our alumni board of directors and over 20 alumni club presidents from across the country participate in the Homecoming parade, along with the winners of the Homecoming awards. A special treat for all of us is that football great Floyd Little ’67 will be the grand marshal of the parade.”

The excitement starts early, with two events taking place before the weekend. On Tuesday, Oct. 3, Slice of Orange Day will take place at the Hildegarde and J. Myer Schine Student Center from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Games, prizes and food will be available, and students can play Traditions Trivia for a free Homecoming T-shirt. Official judging of the Orange Crush residence hall decoration competition will follow from 7-9 p.m.

On Thursday, Oct. 5, the University Lectures presents environmental artist and designer Ned Kahn at 7:30 p.m. in Hendricks Chapel. Kahn’s renowned and distinctive work involves the use of materials such as water, wind and sand to illustrate elements of nature that are hard to see with the naked eye. Seating is limited.

Homecoming Weekend kicks off with an awards reception and ceremony Friday, Oct. 6, at 4 p.m. in the Panasci Lounge in the Schine Student Center. The awards honor outstanding alumni, young alumni, alumni clubs and faculty. Interim Vice Chancellor and Provost Eric Spina and Neil Gold `70, president of the SU Alumni Association, will present the awards.

Shortly after, the celebration goes into high gear with the `Cuse Commotion, a newly revamped series of Homecoming events, including the parade, pep rally, a new bonfire and barbecue. The parade begins at 5:30 p.m. in front of the Schine Student Center and proceeds throughout campus and city streets, ending at the Quad. Barry L. Wells, senior vice president and dean of student affairs, will serve as honorary parade marshal alongside Floyd Little and will participate in the procession. The pep rally, bonfire and barbecue, scheduled to begin at 6:15 p.m., will take place on the Quad.

Later that evening, University Union presents the Homecoming concert, featuring pop band The All American Rejects at Goldstein Auditorium. Tickets are available to SU/ESF students, faculty and staff with valid I.D. for $10. Doors open at 7:45 p.m. for the 8:30 p.m. show. Contact the Schine Box Office for tickets.

Another weekend highlight is a book signing by Little and former Orange cheerleader and noted artist Warren Kimble ’57 Saturday, Oct. 7, from 9-11 a.m. under the Orange Friendzy Tent on the Quad. Kimble will sign his recent children’s book, “The Cat’s Meow” (Walker Publishing, 2006), and the second edition of “Warren Kimble American Folk Artist: His Life, His Art & Collections” (Landauer Corp., 2005). Little will sign his first book, “Floyd Little’s Tales from the Broncos Sideline” (Sports Publishing LLC, 2006). The books are available for sale on the Quad and in the University Bookstore.

Saturday’s main event is the Homecoming football game, in which the Orange take on the Pittsburgh Panthers at the Carrier Dome. Kickoff is noon. At 9 p.m., the Homecoming fireworks show will light up the sky with special orange and blue displays with best views from the Quad and the Schine Student Center.

“Homecoming continues to grow as more student leaders and student organizations take part in the planning and implementation of this exciting tradition,” says Ellen King, director of student events. “Homecoming 2006 features a variety of activities that we think have a great deal of appeal for the entire campus community and our alumni as well.”

Homecoming 2006 events are sponsored by the Division of Student Affairs and the Office of Alumni Relations at SU.