THE UNIVERSITY DARY KANSAN
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2007
HOMECOMING
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CULTURE
Homecoming customs vary around the world
Other countries' traditions celebrate education, family
BY HELEN MUBARAK
In the United States, homecomings center on special football games.
jaynaws from other countries say the tradition of football as the focus of homecoming is strictly American.
Mohamed El-Hodiri, a professor of economics, was raised in Egypt and studied in Russia. He
Unlike homecoming at the university, kermesse lasts only one day and revolves around family soccer tournaments that entire families
"It should not be purely entertainment and fundraising, for heaven's sake."
MOHAMED EL-HODIRI Professor of economics
said those two countries had traditions of homecoming, but they were different in emphasis and objectives from the homecoming traditions of the United States, Australia and apartheid-era South Africa.
"In the old countries with traditions and long cultural history, homecoming focuses on the intellectual contributions of the graduates and celebrates the process of learning." El-Hodiri said.
He said this tradition had been lost in newer countries. One of his criticisms of the University's homecoming was the shift from honoring to entertainment.
"My favorite part of homecoming at KU would be when alumni come and pay visit to their old professors, but I never saw that on the program." El-Hodiri said. "It should not be purely entertainment and fundraising, for heaven's sake."
Eduardo Galdo, Lima, Peru, junio, said people in his country referred to annual alumni gatherings as kermesse. This Peruvian version of homecoming only takes place in high schools.
"All the old students — even the 60-year-olds — will come with their sons to celebrate," Galdo said.
participate in. Galdo also said that during kermesse, his high school placed a stronger emphasis on the family aspect than the University did during home-coming.
"Even the dad and the grandparent will have
the same team as the son," Galdo said. "They all play together. It's more of a family thing."
In Hong Kong, high school students celebrate a day similar to the American tradition of homecoming. Mandy Leu.
hong Kong freshman, said her school held an annual sports day, on which alumni return to watch competitions. During this event, running is the most anticipated sport.
In some countries, schools do not sponsor any events comparable to homecoming in the United States.
Sandra Ristovska, Skopje, Macdonia, junior, said Macedonians did not celebrate an event like homecoming, but universities did invite their alumni for certain special occasions.
they are in the States, so no events are centered around a college sport game," Ritovska said.
"College sports are not as important for most European countries as
Although an annual gathering of alumni does not exist in Macedonia, Ritovska said graduation anniversaries were celebrated every five years.
As in Macedonia, an annual day for alumni gathering did not exist in Saudi Arabia, Mohammed Al Shammarli, Dammm, Saudi Arabia, freshman, said.
"College sports are not as important for most European countries as they are in the States, so no events are centered around a college sport game."
"We don't have it back home, but I think homeliness is a good idea." Al Shammari said. "This day is cool, in my opinion, because it would remind alumni of the school."
He said he especially liked the fact that homecoming allowed former students to reunite with old friends and visit their professors. Al Shammari said he would definitely come back after he graduated.
Dawit Kebede, Addis Ababa,
SANDRA RISTOVSKA
Skopje, Macedonia, junior
Ethiopia, freshman, said reunions of former students were not popular in his hometown, but he said he was impressed with the American tradition of homecoming
"I think it is important to remember your school." Kebede said.
He said he liked the personal freedom at the University and plans to return after graduation.
"Homecoming is real democracy," Kebede said. "In Ethiopia, a parade in a university would be seen as a political demonstration."
Edited by Matt Erickson
BY ALEXANDRA GARRY WHY DID YOU COME TO KU?
What do you think?
CJ HARRIES
Wichita freshman
"The campus is amazing"
KAITLYN CUNNINGHAM Geneva, Ill., freshman "I was recruited to play soccer and, as soon as I got here, I fell in love with the campus – it's gorgeous. It's far away from home, too."
KAITLYN CUNNINGHAM
LUCIA GRILLO
LUCIA GRILLO
Kansas City, Mo., junior
"I was going to K-State and then I decided Manhattan is too full of rednecks."
KIRILL NODTOCHIY
Overland Park sophomore "I heard about their excellent architecture program. That, and it's in-state. It was the natural choice for me."
JAIME KOHLMEYER
Washington, Kan., junior "I've always been a KU athletics fan, and I lived here for four years before I became a student, so it was convenient."
Shawnee freshman "It's a big campus, so it offers a lot of opportunity. And KU basketball, I have to say KU basketball."
LINDSAY ANDREWS
》 LAWRENCE
Lawrence businesses, on Massachusetts Street and elsewhere, expect a busy homecoming weekend. Hotels, restaurants and bars all experience surges of business during the week as alumni and others come to Lawrence.
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Visitors bring business
BY ABBY OLCESE
It's no secret that the University begins preparations for homecoming months before the event. But the University is not the only entity that has to make its homecoming plans far in advance.
Visitors who plan to stay for the weekend have their own pressing issues to deal with: Where will they stay after the day's festivities have come to a close?
That's where people like Randy Disoos and Brandon White come in. Disoos is the manager of the Lawrence Econo Lodge, 2222 W. Sixth St., and White manages the local Holiday Inn, 200 McDonald Dr. Both hotel managers said that rooms sold quickly every year for homecoming weekend.
"Usually after the rooms open up, they're gone in a day or two," Disoso said. "We started selling the rooms in July, and by August we were sold out."
"I'd say we usually have to turn down 50-100 people per night leading up to homecoming," White said. "Normally it wouldn't be so many."
White said it was not unusual for the Holiday Inn to be sold out of rooms every weekend when there was a home football game, but there was a definite increase in demand over homecoming weekend.
Hotels are not the only businesses in Lawrence that can expect an increase of customers during homecoming. Restaurants and bars
are affected by the increase, as well.
"Usually on busy weekends like homecoming, we like to feature interesting specials, like nice beef and fish," said Ann Turner, manager of Teller's, 746 Massachusetts St. "We usually have good specials on weekends, but during homecoming, we'll have special dishes like Kobe beef."
Ryan Lantz, general manager of Abe and Jake's Landing, 8 E. Sixth St., said homecoming crowds varied year to year.
"The size of the crowd also depends on who KU is playing. This year, it's Nebraska, and Nebraska fans travel well, since it's so close," Lantz said.
Jerry Neverve, owner of the Red Lyon Tavern, 944 Massachusetts St., said the incoming crowd was a general mix of locals and out-of-towners.
"People come back to Lawrence. They want to go out and have a good time," Neverce said. "It's kind of hard to tell, though, how many of those people aren't from around here."
Lantz said he thought the ratio of locals to non-locals depended on the location of KU's opponent in the homecoming game.
"If a team's from a long distance away, it's not likely the fans are going to travel, or will want to stay after the game." Lantz said. "Nebraska is about two hours away, so the fans may want to stay."
To prepare for the increased number of customers, Disoso
makes sure every employee is available to work the weekend of homecoming.
"When you get an influx of people like this, you want to make sure that everyone's needs are met quickly, and that they're able to get the service they expect," Disoso said.
In addition to making sure Holiday Inn is fully staffed, White has his staff prepare welcome gifts for guests.
"It's a way for us to say, 'Thank you for choosing to stay here,' " White said. "I don't know yet what we'll do this year, but last year we had welcome bags with snacks and bottles of water in them."
Unlike hotels, popular restaurants in town are usually filled to capacity every weekend, so increasing staffing on Homecoming is not a solution, according to Turner.
"Everyone working just has to work a little faster," she said.
Peggy Kritos, manager of the Mad Greek Restaurant, 907 Massachusetts St., agreed with Turner.
"We're always busy, so we always have lots of staff working," Kritos said. "On big weekends, we just prepare more food and have it ready to go."
Neverve said he'enjoyed the extra customers.
"It's a nice bump in business," Neverve said, "We always look forward to it."
Edited by Matt Erickson
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