2008 Woodie Awards
Alumni: Heart of Homecoming
Jenna Rignanese
Issue date: 9/28/06 Section: News
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Homecoming and Alumni Weekend are only a few days away. Are you ready to show your Pioneer pride?
Football is not the only key event on Saturday. But this weekend marks the return of Sacred Heart Alumni for two days of fun and festivities.
The Alumni Staff and Student Life invites all past students of Sacred Heart who have graduated and left the campus life to return and reminisce about their college days.
The weekend not only includes Homecoming events for current students, but provides alumni with access to various activities, such as the football game, catered banquets and special events.
"Homecoming is great," said Marie Donahue of Alumni and Parent Relations. "Alumni come back to their alma mater and catch up with former classmates and they get to see how the university has changed."
Donahue's committee works hard to make sure every Alumni Weekend is memorable and exciting. Even though Alumni and Parent Relations plan other events such as formal dinners, golf tournaments, brunches, and lectures, Donahue finds that Homecoming is one of the most important events of the year.
This Saturday kicks off a weekend geared towards the young and the old, the past, present and future of Sacred Heart.
From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. an alumni tent with food, face painting and a kid's corner will be set up in the Faculty Parking Lot.
During this time, there will also be tailgating in a designated area in the Faculty Lot, where the group with the most people will receive some exciting prizes.
The Alumni Brunch will be held at 10:30 a.m and costs $15 per person. At the brunch, three to four alumni will be recognized for their strength and hard work throughout the Sacred Heart community.
The events for Homecoming and Alumni Weekend continue at 11:30 a.m. when the creative and colorful Homecoming Parade consisting of numerous SHU clubs and organizations makes its way up to the Pitt Center to show off Sacred Heart spirit.
"I can't wait for Alumni Weekend," said Zak Kepner, 2006 graduate, Largo, Fla.
"I am looking forward to it because a lot of my old friends moved back home after graduation and they are all coming for the game. It should be a great time!"
The football game against Wagner College begins at 1 p.m. Red and white will decorate the stands as the roar of the marching band, chants of the cheerleaders , rumble of the football team and roar of the fans fills the air.
Pioneer souvenirs will be on sale inside the gate and food packages provided by FLIK called "Huddles" which contain hamburgers, hotdogs, drinks and snacks will be available to purchase for hungry fans.
Alumni Weekend is a big event on campus for the students, faculty and returning alumni. Posters are spread throughout the campus promoting Sacred Heart's favorite fall weekend and emails and letters have been sent to alumni to remind them of the events.
Tailgating and football go hand-in-hand, whether at a NEC or NFL game. But the tailgating rules have changed at Sacred Heart.
In past years, North Lot was open for both alumni and current students to tailgate as they please. Problems arose on campus when many tailgaters chose to party in North Lot instead of attending the football game.
New tailgating rules will be put into effect this weekend to promote the "dry campus" Sacred Heart prides itself to be.
"The reason these steps are being taken is to prevent underage drinking and ensure a safe event," said Jack Fernandez, Public Safety.
With the recent ban of kegs on Fairfield University campus, alcohol on campus grounds is a hot issue and has been the talk of the town.
"We adjusted our procedures this summer before we were made aware of Fairfield University's change," said Fernandez. "Alcoholic beverages will be allowed in two locations on campus for persons over 21 years old and have registered with the appropriate officers.
"The faculty/staff lot will be reserved for Alumni tailgaters and the Curtis Hall lot for athletic tailgaters. We will not allow alcoholic beverages in any other area."
Sacred Heart's size is one component that pertains to the Homecoming and alumni festivities. Bigger colleges celebrate their homecomings with a week of different school spirited activities, enormous parades, televised football games and acres of tailgaters.
Do Homecoming and alumni activities properly represent the Sacred Heart spirit and Pioneer pride?
"Sacred Heart isn't the biggest school," said Laura Johnson, junior, Redhook, N.Y. "We don't have the size, money, and fan base that bigger schools have so the turn out won't be the same as schools, like Boston College. Our [Homecoming and alumni] activities are smaller and more personal, making SHU Homecoming unique every year."
This weekend is not only about new safety regulations and drinking rules, but marks the unity of Sacred Heart throughout the years.
Alumni will return to show their spirit and to catch up with old friends and students will celebrate and show what Sacred Heart Homecoming is all about.
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