Staff Ed
Flashback to senior year of high school—it’s Friday night, and the marching band is blaring the fight song. See the cheerleaders running the victory lap and performing the various cheers to make sure that the crowd is pumped. Watch the football team pummeling the long-time crosstown rival and celebrate with your friends dressed in the school colors as the clock runs down to zero.
All this sums up the excitement of one word— homecoming.
Fast forward to life at Pepperdine, where we will not find a marching band, though the emerging Pep band may be an adequate substitute. But we do at least have cheerleaders. We do have a rival in Loyola Marymount University, another necessity.
Although we have the Pepperdine football T-shirts (“Still Undefeated”) we’re missing the key ingredient to the typical homecoming recipe— a football team. Is there even a point to attending? Yes.
Tackling the football excuse right off the bat, Pepperdine does not lack in the sports department. On Saturday, Feb 17, there will be women’s and men’s basketball games against LMU. Also on baseball team will play against Wichita State at 1 p.m. on Friday and 11 a.m. on Saturday. All these events are sure to fill the void anyone may feel in their football-loving hearts.
Sports aside, there are also other activities that students may take advantage of. With the theme “It’s time to come home,” Pepperdine alumni are doing just that.
“We’re expecting between 1,500 and 2,000 alumni,” said Tara Lawrence, manager of Homecoming and reunions for Seaver.
Current students are encouraged to participate in the activities because of the many benefits. Students tend to brush off the activities because of a lack of a football, and the misconception that the events are based solely around alumni. What students don’t realize is that Homecoming is not all about the pigskin and it’s not just for the alumni, but for them as well.
These events are prepared far before Homecoming is in the minds of most. For the events planned, the Student Alumni Organization budgeted $25,000 for this week and will spend more money provided by sponsorships and support from the Student Programming Board, Student Activities and Riptide.
“It’s a big push to include everybody,” Lawrence said.
Students may also view this time as an opportunity to network.
Those who serve as Homecoming hosts will be able to have one-on-one time with members of the alumni as the hosts direct them to the next activities and tour the campus.
There will be class reunions and International Program reunions for London and Lyon. Also on deck are club reunions for Pepperdine Ambassadors Council and American Humanics Scholars. With these events alone, Homecoming week provides ample opportunities to meet the many alumni of Pepperdine.
While the Pepperdine campus is usually rather quiet, during Homecoming week it is anything but. This is a time when students can have fun. “It’s a real festive atmosphere,” Lawrence said.
The Spirit Cup is comprised of competitions between Greek and other student organizations and includes the lip sync competitions.
Another motivation to participate in the Homecoming festivities may also be summed up in one word— free. Free entertainment. Free shirts. Free food.
After the excitement of the Spirit Cup, student can have fun at the Homecoming village and cheer on various student bands on the main stage. With booths and activities galore, being bored is not an option.
During the tailgate and pep rally at Alumni Park, Riptide will be having free giveaways. If all this is not enough to get someone out to the park, perhaps the absolutely free In-N-Out will do the trick.
After the bellies are filled with the fresh, meaty goodness, Willie the Wave will appear to round everyone up to the Firestone Fieldhouse to see the basketball game against rival Loyola Marymount.
Going to the Homecoming events will be a swift getaway from ever looming mid-terms. If needing an excuse to flee from the tests, this would be the one that would do it. The opportunities to prepare for the future with networking, as well as to preserve the monetary aspects of life by taking advantage of the free offers, justify sneaking away from that Com class assignment well worth it. After all, all this is for the students.
02-15-2007