With one of the largest alumni populations in the world, the University began this weekend's Homecoming celebration with a pep rally last night at the Power Center.
Highlights for the weekend include the Alumni Association-sponsored Go Blue Brunch on Saturday morning and a free University Men's Glee Club concert on Ingalls Mall on Saturday afternoon.
"Because this year is the Alumni Association's 100th anniversary, the number of visiting alums is up from previous years," said Janice Nuttle, Alumni Association manager of programs and adviser to the Student Alumni Council's Homecoming Committee.
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| PAUL TALANIAN/Daily The Michigan Dance Team shows its maize and blue spirit at a pep rally at the Power Center last night. The pep rally is one of many events scheduled for the Homecoming weekend. |
Despite the large number of alumni in town, and almost 1,000 maize and blue pom-poms distributed on the Diag yesterday and today, many students are unaware that this weekend is Homecoming, said Engineering junior Nicole Roth, co-chair of the University Activities Center and its Homecoming committee.
Roth attributed students' lack of participation in Homecoming activities to the busy time of year, not to lack of interest.
"Homecoming is very underpublicized," Roth said. "Also, a lot of students don't get involved because they are busy with exams, and that's just too bad."
Some students who had heard of Homecoming said the event holds a valuable place at the University.
"I think Homecoming is very necessary for the University, for people to come back and show their school spirit," said LSA sophomore Amy Schulsinger.
LSA sophomore Andrew Blau agreed, adding that Homecoming gives him the opportunity to see friends who graduated last year.
One way black students can get involved with Homecoming is through the annual Student-Alumni Exchange, sponsored by the African American Alumni Council, said John Matlock, assistant vice provost and director of the Office of Academic and Multicultural Initiatives.
"The student-alumni exchange gives students the opportunity to talk to about 15 different professionals about career opportunities and internships," he said.
The council also expects about 300 alumni at its Saturday night fund-raising banquet, where the guest speaker will be U.S. Rep. Carolyn Cheeks-Kilpatrick (D-Detroit).
Homecoming also gives various student groups the opportunity to show off their talents to University graduates. One group performing this weekend is the Comedy Company, a student sketch and improvisational comedy show sponsored by UAC.
"Our show 'Com Air' gives alumni a chance to visit with old friends, and still do something on campus after the game," said LSA junior Erica Hermatz, one of two producers of the show, which will be held in the Michigan Union tomorrow night at 8.
One student group that will benefit from Homecoming is the $1,000 winner of the Alumni Association-sponsored "Village on the Mall" miniature display of Ann Arbor contest. Each business that participated donated $175 to have a replica of their building constructed.
"Each student organization that participated built a structure to resemble either the sponsor's business or a building on campus," Nuttle said. One important criterion was that the structure be weatherproof because the display will be on Ingall's Mall through Sunday, Nuttle said.
Ann Kolkman, Student Alumni Council president, said the Village on the Mall contest was a great way to increase students' involvement in Homecoming.
"Homecoming here is just getting started and I don't think there is a lot of student support behind it yet," Kolkman said. "But it definitely has the potential to grow and become something exciting."
Alpha Phi Omega took 1st Place in the contest with a replica of the store front of M-Den. UAC won 2nd Place with a replica of Hill Auditorium. The Black Volunteer Network won 3rd Place for building a model of The Kerrytown Shops.
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