On Monday, Nov. 28, Lawrence’s Homecoming Week kicked off. In previous years, the university has held homecoming festivities on the Friday and Saturday of Homecoming Weekend. However, this year the Office of Student Engagement, Activities and Leadership (SEAL) has decided to try something new — Lawrence’s first ever Homecoming Week.
Hannah Osborne, the Director of Student Events & Viking Room Fellow, said that this is the first year that Lawrence is having a full spirit week.
“We’re doing this to hopefully create more engagement for students and to get students more involved in the process,” Osborne said. “So, it is not just the weekend; it is a full week of activities. In the past, it was always just Friday and Saturday.”
Osborne also shared that SEAL began planning this year’s Homecoming Week with the overall goal of promoting student participation in the events. Traditionally, Homecoming Weekend has focused on family and alumni, so adding the activities during the week that are just for students is a way to give current Lawrentians a bit of excitement during their weekdays. She explained that the main idea is that the activities taking place during the week are for students, while the Blue & White Homecoming Weekend is for students as well as family and alumni.
There are a variety of events and activities taking place on campus over the course of Lawrence’s first official Homecoming Week. On Monday, Oct. 28, Lawrentians were encouraged to wear their class colors and participate in community service projects, such as making tie blankets and kindness rocks. Tuesday, Oct. 29 was Dress Like a Viking Day, and the main activity involved getting together in teams and building cardboard boats to race against others in the Buchanan Kiewit Wellness Center pool. On Wednesday, Oct. 30, there was a talent show in Warch Campus Center (WCC). The day’s dress-up theme was Twin Day, where students could collaborate with others to try to wear similar outfits. Since Thursday, Oct. 31 was Halloween, students were encouraged to wear their costumes, and there was a campus-wide trick-or-treating event. Friday, Nov. 1 is School Spirit Day, and the Homecoming Dance will be taking place in the WCC Mead-Witter room in the evening. Saturday, Nov. 2 is the day of the Homecoming Football Game and the final day of Homecoming Week. There will be a Viking Tailgate from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday at the Banta Bowl, where there will be food trucks, caricature artists and other festivities.
Osborne also stressed how homecoming is an important Lawrence University tradition. She explained the importance of having an event where students, staff, alumni and family can all come together to celebrate Lawrence and each other.
“Lawrence is very big on traditions, building engagement and, most importantly, bringing people together,” Osborne said.
Osborne added that Lawrence students and staff should be excited about the festivities because homecoming provides a means to easily get involved and do new things, such as going to a Lawrence football game for the first time. Osborne said Homecoming Week will be full of fun events and opportunities for Lawrentians.
“It is a way to get involved and meet people that maybe you normally would not have met,” Osborne stated. “You may go to an event and meet your new friends for the next few years or for life.”