Homecoming is a busy weekend

Photo by Philip Shirk

Undergraduate Academic Dean Marie Morris addresses students at the kickoff chapel for Homecoming weekend last Friday in Lehman Auditorium.

EMU came to life last weekend, booming with activity as Homecoming events forced students out of their usual weekend hibernation.

A multi-cultural chapel Friday morning kicked off the weekend's theme of "The World Next Door." Mark Wenger, an alumnus of EMU, spoke on his Middle East cross-cultural experience thirty years ago. Following that, an ethnic brunch was served in the Campus Center, featuring foods like rice patties, meatballs, honey wafers, and egg rolls.

Some people found the increased activity to their liking while others did not. When asked on Sunday how he'd enjoyed his time here, one alumnus complained that too much had been crammed into one weekend.

From art exhibits to golf tournaments to theater productions to breakfasts to reunions to chapels, it's no wonder that he felt this way. However, as Jim Bishop (photographer of this weekend's affairs) pointed out, things have improved from the way Homecoming used to be 30 years ago when Alumni Office staff did not work full-time, and the only activities offered for Homecoming were individual reunions, Sunday worship, and a few up-start sports events.

Now parents are offered free child-care as well as activities for their older children, freeing up a few hours of their time and making their weekend even more of a getaway than they might have expected. And for those families who preferred to stick together, homecoming provided family-friendly activities as well. One such family, the Keeners, hung out in the University Commons for about an hour Saturday afternoon, getting "pampered up" by the Black Student Union, who gave facials, hair-braidings, and manicures all afternoon. Beforehand, the Keener family had all been at the climbing wall, which was open for two hours that afternoon for anyone who was up to a vertical challenge.

Saturday morning offered multiple breakfast conferences and forums followed by class reunions and luncheons. Five sports events took place: cross country had a home meet, and women's volleyball, men's and women's soccer, and women's field hockey all had games. Godspell launched the second of its three Homecoming performances at 7:30 in the evening, drawing a large crowd and earning a standing ovation.

A Faculty Concert occurred simultaneously in the Martin Chapel. According to Steve Sachs, professor of Music, the aim of the faculty who participated in this concert was to "transport the audience away from their present reality," with solos and duets on the piano, violin, trumpet, and organ.

On Sunday, a special worship service in Lehman Auditorium wrapped up the weekend with the presentation of alumni awards and the dedication of the new University Hymn. Mike and Ginny Hostetler were named Alumni of the Year, chosen for bringing together people of differing faiths to work towards a common goal in Nazareth Village. The 2003 Distinguished Service Award went to David Shenk, who has dedicated years of service and mission work to writing, leading, and teaching.

According to Janet Stutzman, director of Alumni and Parent Relations, the "climax" of the worship service as well as the entire weekend came with the singing of "Christ of the Mountain, be our Word," the new University Hymn written and composed by Jean Janzen and Shirley Bustos.