All Roads
Lead to Rose-Hulman for Alumni Returning to Participate in Homecoming
Alumni and family members from throughout the country
will return to Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology this weekend, Oct.
6-7, to participate in homecoming festivities on campus and throughout
the community.
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Other homecoming news:
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This year’s theme, “Come Get Your Kicks at Homecoming
‘06”, has encouraged alumni of all ages to travel back to campus to
retrace pleasant college memories and become reacquainted with their
alma mater, according to Brian Dyer, director of alumni affairs.
Homecoming also allows current Rose-Hulman students to
continue several of the college’s traditions and participate in several
of the 36 scheduled activities.
“Homecoming is a special time on any college campus,
with class reunions and other events. We have made a conscious effort in
recent years to have events for every member of the Rose-Hulman ‘family’
– alumni and their family members, current students, faculty and staff
members.”
Traditional events scattered throughout the weekend
include the bonfire, pep rally, football game, class reunions and golf
scrambles. Other events include an all-alumni party on Friday; a Rosie’s
KidZone for families, a Golden Gala Dinner for graduates from the year
1956 and earlier, a performance by Recycled Percussion on Saturday; and
a religious service Sunday morning in the White Chapel.
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| Brushing Up Campus: Members of Rose-Hulman
Institute of Technology's 11 Greek organizations gathered early
last Saturday to get the campus spruced up for this weekend's
festivities with a Brush Up For Homecoming event. |
No Rose-Hulman homecoming would be complete without the
annual bonfire on Friday night -- continuing a tradition that started in
1923. Freshmen started building this year’s bonfire last Friday, Sept.
29, under the direction of Resident Assistants Eric Volz and Matt Mayer,
and approximately 400 students will have worked on the structure before
Friday’s pep rally. Once complete, the bonfire will be 25 foot tall,
consist of no more than 1,000 cubic feet of wood and be topped by an
outhouse -- another homecoming tradition.
Erik Hayes, Rose-Hulman’s director of residence life and
a 1997 mechanical engineering graduate, helped construct the bonfire
during his freshman year and sought to continue the homecoming tradition
in 1996 when construction of the Sports and Recreation Center forced
school officials to consider either moving the bonfire site or ending
the bonfire.
“I like the way the freshmen have to work together to
accomplish a goal. When the sophomores tear it down (an annual bonfire
ritual), it gives the freshmen a sense of ownership. They get committed
to the project,” Hayes says. “Freshman will remember this (building the
bonfire) when they leave and will come back (as alumni) to reminisce
about the days when they constructed their bonfire. Personally, I think
the bonfire is a large reason that alumni return every year. It brings
people (students and alumni) together.
“The bonfire is one of the few remaining traditions,”
Hayes said. “Things may change on campus, but alumni can be assured that
the bonfire will burn on homecoming.”
This will be the first homecoming for new Rose-Hulman
President Gerald Jakubowski, who has already met hundreds of alumni
during special events since he began his duties on July 1.
Final preparations for homecoming began last Saturday
when more than 150 members of Rose-Hulman’s Greek organizations spent
three hours planting mums, spreading mulch and painting curbs during a
Brush Up For Homecoming event throughout campus.
“Student truly care about the school and alumni really
appreciate seeing the campus looking its best for homecoming,” said Pete
Gustafson, vice president of student affairs and dean of students.
Homecoming events begin Friday, Oct. 6, at 9 a.m. when
nearly 200 alumni will play in golf outings at the Terre Haute Country
Club and Hulman Links courses. The Heritage Honor Roll luncheon will be
at noon in the Hulman Union.
Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity alumni will gather on campus
Friday (6 p.m.) to examine renovations to the fraternity’s house,
completed this fall by alumni and current students.
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| Bonfire Continues Homecoming Tradition:
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology's Homecoming bonfire,
constructed each year by freshman students, continues a school
tradition that was started in 1923. The bonfire is approximately
25 feet tall, consists of no more than 1,000 cubic feet of wood
and is topped by an outhouse. |
Young alumni that graduated during the past 10 years are
invited to a social event (5-7:30 p.m.) at The Brewhaus in downtown
Terre Haute, while other alumni will gather for a reception (5-7:30
p.m.) at the Clabber Girl Museum. The pep rally, queen coronation,
bonfire and fireworks begin at 8:30 p.m. at Cook Stadium.
Early risers on Saturday, Oct. 7, can participate in a
5-kilometer fun run/walk (7:45 a.m.) through campus, beginning near the
Sports and Recreation Center. The Alumni Awards Breakfast (9 a.m.) and
annual meeting of the Alumni Association (10:30 a.m.) take place in the
Hulman Union. Academic departments will host open houses from 11 a.m.
until 1 p.m. Hospitality tents will be open beginning at noon near Cook
Stadium, alongside Rosie’s KidZone area (noon to 4 p.m.) and student
design project displays (noon to 2 p.m.).
The Engineers’ football team will host Defiance College
(2 p.m.) on Phil Brown Field. Alumni and students will fill the Hatfield
Hall Theatre (8 p.m.) for a performance by Recycled Percussion,
featuring a “junk rock” musical experience.
Sunday’s events include a non-denominational religious
service (8 a.m.) in White Chapel, and a breakfast (9 a.m.) for alumni
who have returned to participate in a class reunion. The breakfast will
be hosted by Jakubowski.
Complete Homecoming details are available at
www.rose-hulman.edu/homecoming or people can call 877-8976.
