Friday, October 1, 1999
The University Daily Kansan
Section B·Page 5
Homecoming
Homecoming — revered American tradition, or plain cheesy?
Cynthia Malakasis
Kansan
correspondent
writer @kansan.com
Homecoming is an old and respected American academic tradition, and that's all the knowledge I used to have on the subject.
I had first heard of homecoming as a freshman in the residence halls, and it seemed peculiar that everybody made such a fuss about it.
Normally I would have looked into it, but as a very American tradition it only served to bring me a fresh attack of homesickness. So I just let it go. Coming from Greece, where the whole notion of homecoming has never entered anyone's
mind — and if it did, I was almost positive they would find it preposterous — I had absolutely no clue what the whole thing was about.
My quest for feedback on the subject started with my friend, Kyle. Kyle usually acts as my cultural intermediate and my guru in mysterious American habits and traditions. But even Kyle didn't have a whole lot of information to give me. All I managed to learn from her is that Homecoming takes place on a football weekend, and it has to do with alumni coming back to visit. Frankly, I didn't understand.
Commentary
Why would anyone make such a fuss about former students coming to the school and watching a football game? My talk with Kyle left me in a state of severe anxiety. If she couldn't help me capture the spirit of homecoming, then no one could.
My next mission was to interview scholarship hall residents. There, things started to turn for the better. Even though I did talk to people who seemed profoundly indifferent about it, I also got very
enthusiastic and informative interviewees. And through them, I gradually discovered that Homecoming is about bonding and nostalgia, traditions and communication.
Alumni come back to visit the place where they spent their college years, for some, the best years of their life. They seek to re-establish some contact with their college peers and to get to know new people who have taken their place. On the other side of the coin, current students get somewhat acquainted with the people who
were here before them, and might catch a glimpse of the atmosphere and character of the University years ago.
That's it, I had captured the spirit. At first, Homecoming seemed dreadfully cheesy. But then it started to fit in with the spirit of America and all of its traditions, and my conception of it started to change. And, like most traditions, Homecoming has a beautiful and reassuring aspect to it. Maybe I still find it cheesy, but I don't think I'd want it to change or become less important.
Fourth Week Football Predictions
Southern Methodist at Kansas Kansas State at Texas Oklahoma State at Nebraska Texas A&M at Texas Tech Oklahoma at Notre Dame Virginia Tech at Virginia Purdue at Michigan Alabama at Florida Marshall at Miami, Ohio UCLA at Arizona State
CHRIS FICKETT (sports editor)
BRAD HALLIER (associate sports editor)
Kansas
Texas
Nebraska
Texas A&M
Oklahoma
Virginia
Michigan
Florida
Marshall
Arizona State
Kansas Texas Nebraska Texas A&M Notre Dame Virginia Tech Purdue Florida Marshall Arizona State
JULIE WOOD (editor in chief)
Kansas
Texas
Nebraska
Texas A&M
Oklahoma
Virginia
Michigan
Florida
Miami, Ohio
Arizona State
MICHAEL RIGG (Big 12 football reporter)
MIKE MILLER (Kansas football reporter)
Kansas
Texas
Nebraska
Texas A&M
Notre Dame
Virginia Tech
Michigan
Florida
Marshall
Arizona State
Kansas
Texas
Nebraska
Texas A&M
Notre Dame
Virginia Tech
Michigan
Florida
Marshall
Arizona State
CANDICE ALLEN (student)
Kansas
Kansas State
Nebraska
Texas A&M
Notre Dame
Virginia
Michigan
Florida
Marshall
Arizona State
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