Homecoming parties planned

What could be more like coming home than an attending an intimate brunch with thousands of your closest friends? For this year's Homecoming festivities, specially planned as part of the University's 250th celebrations, younger alumni will join students at their alma mater for a complimentary pre-game brunch on College Green. The brunch is one of many activities including a buffet dinner and pop music concert where students and alumni will mingle. And Homecoming organizers said that by increasing student participation in both the planning and the activities, they are hoping not only to celebrate the 250th in style but to launch new Homecoming traditions to continue into the next quarter millineum. The students have increased their prominence working through the Social Planning and Events Committee, created last year to coordinate undergraduate social activities. SPEC Co-chairperson Mark Epstein said yesterday that students want to make Homecoming as accessible to and popular with students as Spring Fling or Hey Day. "We think it could be really great for the University to tap into some of the student enthusiasm that has been neglected in the past," the College and Wharton senior said. "Students deserve a chance to make something of this." The Student Homecoming Committee, a SPEC subcommittee, and several administrators worked together over the summer to organize the events in tandem with the 250th anniversary celebrations. "We hope to continue the events that were successful for the 250th and inspire a sense of tradition in Homecoming," said Joan Williamson, project coordinator for the 250th. "The emphasis is much more on the students because they are going to be on campus." "We were looking for an event that mixes the generations and gets students and alumni together," she said. "We've tried to schedule things that everybody could participate in." The festivities will begin on Friday morning with a fair featuring entertainment across campus and possibly food booths set up by area restaurants. In the afternoon there will be a parade from Superblock down Locust Walk with the Penn Band and floats built by different student groups. The procession will culminate at Hill Field with a Pep Rally and bonfire. In the evening there will be lightweight football game on Franklin Field. On Saturday, following the College Green brunch, the Penn-Yale game will kick off at 1 p.m. Organizers have been working with the Penn Band on an extended half-time show, but said they have not decided on a theme. After the game, alumni and students are invited to an all-American buffet dinner in Hutchinson Gym including raw bars, and Tex-Mex and Louisiana cooking, followed by a concert in the Palestra featuring Michael Bolton, The Hooters, Mary Wilson and The Supremes and The Four Tops. Dinner and entertainment will cost students $10. Campaign Programs Director McCullough said the administration hopes to send students and local alumni a mailer by the end of the month outlining the final plans for the celebration and including a registration form for special events. McCullough said that plans will be submitted for Student Homecoming Committee approval tomorrow night.

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