Homecoming + Reunion planned for Sept. 18-21

Friday, August 29, 2008, By News Staff

Homecoming + Reunion planned for Sept. 18-21August 29, 2008Kelly Homan Rodoskikahoman@syr.edu

Syracuse University will welcome back alumni Sept. 18-21 for the celebration of Homecoming + Reunion . The awarding of the George Arents Pioneer Award to four distinguished alumni and special tours of the major Michelangelo exhibition on campus headline a full and exciting schedule of events for all alumni to enjoy.

Homecoming and Reunion events were combined into one weekend for the first time last year, and this will be the first time that the Arents Awards, the highest alumni honor that the University bestows, are given at the combined fall celebration.

Reunion classes from years ending in 3 and 8 will be honored this year, with the Class of 1958 celebrating its 50th anniversary and the Class of 1983 celebrating its 25th anniversary. In addition, the Class of 1958 has made major efforts to increase its commitment to the University and has surpassed $1.2 million through planned and annual gifts to The Campaign for Syracuse University .

“Homecoming + Reunion is the perfect setting to showcase our Arents Award recipients and highlight our distinguished alumni to our campus community,” says Andrea Latchem, assistant vice president for alumni relations. “We are thrilled to have this event along with the Michelangelo exhibit as part of an action-packed weekend.”

“Syracuse University works very intentionally to not only educate its students in the classroom but to connect them to the many communities outside the classroom,” says Thomas V. Wolfe, interim vice president and dean of student affairs. “One of the most important communities–or families–that SU students are an important part of is that of our alumni. An event like Homecoming + Reunion is especially exciting for the ways in which it fosters interaction with the global dimension of the SU community and creates new thinking through the engagement between our current students and those who are returning.”

Homecoming + Reunion offers a variety of educational and social opportunities, such as free presentations from renowned faculty experts, a variety of class dinners, and traditions like the Homecoming football game (vs. Northeastern) and annual Homecoming festivities.

Spirit Week starts Sunday, Sept. 14, with the decorating of the campus student centers and continues through Friday, Sept. 19. Each day will have a different theme–Mascot Monday, Twisted Tuesday, Coins for Kids Wednesday, Throwback Thursday and Jersey Friday.

Highlight events of Spirit Week include “SU Idol,” hosted by University Union, the Student Association and First-Year Players; Homecoming Showcase, hosted by DanceWorks, the parade; the pep rally; a bonfire; a concert; field days; the Big Gay Benefit Dinner and Comedian hosted by Pride Union and the LGBT Learning Community; and ‘Cuse Got Talent hosted by Phi Beta Sigma. A full schedule of Spirit Week activities can be found at http://studentlife.syr.edu/Events/Traditions/homecoming.aspx.

“This year, we have more student organizations participating in the planning of events and have expanded to include more affinity-based groups in an effort to involve more students in the festivities,” says Jennifer Bevilacqua Kirkegaard, associate director of traditions in the Office of Student Life. “The Traditions Commission and the Office of Student Life are bringing together all students for Homecoming Week to create a shared experience.”

Reunion events on Thursday, Sept. 18, include a Welcome Back Cocktail Reception from 4-6 p.m. in the Panasci Lounge in the Hildegarde and J. Myer Schine Student Center; the Eggers Senior Alumni Dinner from 5-8 p.m. at the Sheraton Syracuse University Hotel & Conference Center; and the Class of 1958 Golden Anniversary Dinner from 6-9 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom of the Hotel Syracuse.

A lecture and question-and-answer session on “Michelangelo: The Man and the Myth” will be held on Friday, Sept. 19, from 10-11 a.m. in Shemin Auditorium, located in the Shaffer Art Building. Alumni are invited to attend this special presentation by Gary Radke ’73, the exhibition’s scholarly advisor and Dean’s Professor of the Humanities in The College of Arts and Sciences, and Domenic Iacono, director and curator of the SUArt Galleries. Guided tours of the exhibition will be available on Sept. 19 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Self-guided tours are available upon request.

The Arents Awards will be conferred on four honorees during a special luncheon on Friday from noon-2:30 p.m. in Goldstein Auditorium of the Hildegarde and J. Myer Schine Student Center. The recipients of this year’s awards, representing the worlds of business, publishing, medicine and literature, are Edwin N. London ’49; Andrea Davis Pinkney ’85; Daniel H. Present ’55; and Shirley Jackson ’40, who is receiving the award posthumously.

A complete schedule of Homecoming + Reunion events can be found at http://homecoming.syr.edu.

Other events on Friday, Sept. 19, include:

  • morning and afternoon campus tours;

  • an opportunity to be a member of the studio audience at a taping of “The Ivory Tower Half Hour,” a weekly round-table discussion focusing on news and events from the perspective of academicians from across Central New York, hosted by David Rubin, former dean of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, 9?10:30 a.m.

  • an overview of the 2008 presidential campaign, sponsored by the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, 2:45-4 p.m.;

  • “Sport Management 101,” sponsored by the College of Human Ecology, 2:45-4 p.m.;

  • ‘Cuse Commotion Homecoming celebratory activities, commencing with a parade at 5:30 p.m. beginning at the Schine Student Center. A pep rally and bonfire will take place on the Quad at 6:15 p.m., followed by the Homecoming Barbecue at 6:30 p.m. and a University Union-sponsored concert at 9 p.m. on the Quad.

On Saturday, Sept. 19, alumni can choose from the following offerings:

  • “Revisiting CFS 388-The Human Sexuality Refresher,” sponsored by the College of Human Ecology, 10:30-11:30 a.m.;

  • Life Sciences Complex tours, 10:30-11:15 a.m.;

  • Mock Trial Program demonstration, 10:30-11:40 a.m.;

  • “Appetizer Cooking and Wine Tasting,” sponsored by the College of Human Ecology, 3-5 p.m.

  • The Homecoming football game, SU vs. Northeastern, at 3:30 p.m. The Orange Friendzy pre-game barbecue will be held on the Quad three hours before kick-off, and food and beverages will be available for purchase.

On Sunday, Sept. 21, the weekend will close with a Farewell Brunch from 9 a.m.-noon at the Goldstein Alumni and Faculty Center. Religious services will be held at various times and locations around campus.

Homecoming + Reunion 2008 events are sponsored by the Office of Alumni Relations and the Division of Student Affairs.