Amid parade preparations, the election of royalty and the University of Michigan game on Saturday, Homecoming 2005 honors a special day: the 150th anniversary of Northwestern’s first day of classes.
NU has undergone many changes since 1855, from the classroom to the campus to the football field. Football teams did not start thrilling, and disappointing, fans until 1882. The first Homecoming was in 1911. The Rock, considered such a university emblem that it is featured in recruiting commercials this year, was a gift from the class of 1902, according to University Archives.
So when it came to planning the ultimate birthday celebration for the university, this year’s Homecoming organizers went for a blast from the past.
“We’re trying to bring back some old traditions,” said Em Cowan, public relations co-chairwoman of the Homecoming committee. “It used to be that Homecoming always had buttons, so we’re designing some for this year.”
The Communication junior said the committee wanted to host a jamboree – another tradition – but Patten Gym was already booked.
Most of the committee’s promotions have been for events at the end of the week, such as today’s Pep Rally at 7 p.m. in Cahn Auditorium and the parade afterward, Cowan said. This year, Greek houses are designing floats around the theme, “NU through the Decades,” while other student groups were encouraged to paint banners and walk in the parade.
“We’re expecting a bigger turnout this year since Homecoming overlaps with Halloween,” Cowan said.
But if the holiday is drawing in more students, it’s keeping more alumni away, said Tory McCord, Northwestern Alumni Association’s assistant director of student services. In the past, about 2,000 NU graduates have attended the weekend festivities, she said. But the association expects much lower numbers this year.
“We had class reunions during First Friday this year instead of over Homecoming weekend because it’s also Halloween,” McCord said. “We expect that most of the alumni at the game will be from the Chicagoland area.”
The alumni who do return will be greeted by examples of students’ enthusiasm for Homecoming. As part of the Athletic Department’s Paint the Town Purple campaign, about 25 student organizations applied brushes and paint to the windows of Evanston businesses.
The project was the brainchild of a former student worker, said Beth Cunningham, an athletic department marketing assistant. The 3-year-old program has since become a way to involve the community in the whole week of Homecoming, she said.
“We try to permeate the week so that pretty much everywhere students go, they’re reminded,” Cunningham said.
But there’s one Homecoming event students do not need to be reminded to attend. The football game may start at night this Saturday, but preparing to cheer on the Wildcats is an all-day event for many students.
“I’m going to be tailgating with my friends all day, ” said Brandon Bodager, a Weinberg sophomore. “I might even paint myself purple.”
It appears the football game will be completely sold out, something that does not always happen during Homecoming weekend, said Mark Murphy, NU’s athletic director. He said the team’s record this season and University of Michigan’s reputation could be responsible for the increased interest.
“Most schools try to get a team you think you can beat, but from our perspective, Michigan has a great tradition, and it’s a team that will get alumni to come back to watch the game,” h#e said.
Reach Christina Alexander at [email protected].
