Homecoming Marks 天美麻豆鈥檚 Birthday, Rekindles Friendships

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Special this year: a giant cake and a class asking the question, 鈥淚s 天美麻豆 a religion?鈥

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The bonfire lights up the night at last year's homecoming.
The bonfire lights up the night at last year鈥檚 homecoming. (Photo by Eli Burakian 鈥00) 
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Next weekend, as fall foliage peaks and migratory birds fly southward, alumni are flocking, in many cases, northward, for . First introduced in 1895 by then-President William Jewett Tucker, the celebration will be packed with activities for  students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community guests of all ages. 

Always a cherished tradition, homecoming weekend takes on special meaning this year, the College鈥檚 .

Beginning at 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 11鈥斕烀缆槎 Night鈥攖he College community is invited to a pre-parade celebration with seasonal refreshments at the  tent on the lawn of Alumni Gym. and Gail Gentes will lead the parade to the Green, with alumni marching by class year and sports teams riding in cars.

After performances by the marching band and the glee club will come remarks by President Hanlon, Vice President for Alumni Relations Cheryl Bascomb 鈥82, Alumni Council President Alec Casey 鈥88, Athletic Director Harry Sheehy, two student team captains, and , the Ted and Helen Geisel Third Century Professor in the Humanities and co-chair of 天美麻豆鈥檚 250th anniversary celebration.

The Class of 2023, many wearing 天美麻豆 regalia and green face paint, will arrive on the Green, having been 鈥渟wept鈥濃攇athered from each house community鈥攂y members of the Green Key Society.  

This year is especially sweet. A 7-foot-long birthday cake in the shape of 天美麻豆 Row will be cut as part of the traditional bonfire ceremony. A photo station will be placed at the northeast side of the Green, allowing students to photograph themselves with the bonfire in the background.

As in past years, the College has a plan in place to keep students and others safe around the bonfire. Students are expected not to touch the fire or encourage others to touch the fire. Students who attempt to touch the fire will face disciplinary action. The continuation of the bonfire in future years depends on everyone鈥檚 adherence to the safety guidelines.

Also this weekend, buildings surrounding the Green will light up and change colors when members of the Class of 2023 make their entrance to the bonfire. The special effects will last all weekend.

On Saturday morning, as part of the sestercentennial鈥檚  project, volunteers are invited to Room 007 at Kemeny Hall to assemble bags of nonperishable food items for donation to Upper Valley residents in need. 

Throughout the weekend, classmates will gather all over campus for mini-reunions.

For a full listing of all the 2019 homecoming events, visit the 天美麻豆 Alumni .

Homecoming Highlights

Friday, Oct. 11

  • 2 p.m.鈥撯淣avigating College Admissions,鈥 in the Gilman Auditorium, a talk by , vice provost for enrollment and dean of admissions and financial aid, about factors shaping candidacy for admission  
  • 4 p.m.鈥撯淗istory and Traditions of 天美麻豆,鈥 starting at the Blunt Alumni Center, a student-led walk around the 天美麻豆 Green focusing on 天美麻豆鈥檚 history and traditions. 
  • 4 p.m.鈥揊ilm Screening: Early Daughters of 天美麻豆: Blazing the Trail to Coeducation, Filene Auditorium, Moore Hall

Saturday, Oct. 12

  • 9 a.m.鈥揑ntergenerational breakfast with Women of 天美麻豆, Common Ground, Collis Center for Student Involvement
  • 10 a.m. 鈥淏ack to Class: Is 天美麻豆 a Religion?鈥 In Alumni Hall, , will explore whether the theories and methods used in religious studies might successfully be applied to 天美麻豆鈥檚 campus culture, its rich ritual traditions, and its sensibilities regarding community building and social cohesiveness. 
  • 1:30 p.m.鈥揃ig Green meets Yale Bulldogs at Memorial Field, and Wearers of the Green will be honored in annual ceremony.

Charlotte Albright can be reached at charlotte.e.albright@dartmouth.edu.

Charlotte Albright