Colleges, organizations celebrating Homecoming with tailgate reunions
Contact: Christina Chapple
10/20/06
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COLLEGIATE TAILGATING – At Southeastern Louisiana University Homecoming 2005, the College of Education and Human Development’s Gerald Keller manned the jambalaya pot at the college’s tailgating spot across from Garrett Hall. All of Southeastern’s academic colleges, as well as student organizations, fraternities and sororities, will all be out in force tailgating on campus on Homecoming Day, Oct. 28, and are inviting their alumni to join them.
HAMMOND – Southeastern Louisiana University’s academic colleges as well as a variety of student organizations plan to fire up grills and lay out tailgating spreads to welcome their graduates back to campus on Homecoming Day, Oct. 28.
Meanwhile the campus’ Wesley Foundation Methodist Ministry is celebrating its 50th anniversary during Homecoming week and the Spirit of the Southland band is inviting former musicians to relive their marching days in a pre-game performance on the Strawberry Stadium field.
“Homecoming will be a great time for graduates to reconnect with friends and faculty and share in the day’s special Southeastern spirit,” said Alumni Association Reunion Coordinator Julie Perise.”
In addition to the tailgate reunions, she said alumni are invited to view the annual parade which will role from campus to downtown Hammond and back again at 3 p.m. and to pack Strawberry Stadium when the Lions take on Southland Conference foe Stephen F. Austin at 7 p.m. in a game that will be televised on Fox Sports Southwest.
“Gold is the color of the day!” Perise said. “We want to fill the stands with a sea of that bright color. So wear your gold shirts, tailgate and visit with your friends, enjoy the parade – and cheer on the Lions!”
Perise said academic college tailgating reunions will take place at various times and locations throughout the day. While the colleges have sent out invitation letters targeting specific alumni classes or groups, all alumni, along with their families and friends, are welcome to join in the Homecoming festivities.
The College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences and the College of Science and Technology are both tailgating in Azalea Circle in front of Pursley Hall, which some alumni will remember as the “Chemistry and Physics Building.”
Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences will offer jambalaya and other treats from 1-3 p.m. while Science and Technology will repeat the Homecoming tailgating tradition the college began last year by hosting a pig roast and barbeque from 1-6 p.m. “It was a great success, and we expect it to be an even greater success this year,” said Dean Dan McCarthy.
The College of Nursing and Health Sciences is gathering adjacent to Mims Hall on the corner of North Oak and Western from 1-3 p.m, where graduates can enjoy barbecue and visit with faculty from college’s departments.
The College of Education and Human Development will serve up “made-on-the-spot” jambalaya beginning at 2:30 p.m. on Western Ave. across from Garrett Hall, said Dean Diane Allen. “The smell alone will be worth the trip!” she said.
The College of Business will also tailgate near Garrett Hall from 4-5:30 p.m. Allen and College of Business Dean Randy Settoon both point out that their locations will offer a good vantage point for the 3 p.m. parade watching.
The Division of General Studies is inviting students and alumni to gather near McGehee Hall from 5-6:30 p.m. to “reconnect and share stories of days gone by,” said Dean Barbara Allen.
The Wesley Foundation United Methodist Campus Ministry, which is celebrating 50 years of ministry at Southeastern, will host a reunion for all members and former members at the Wesley Foundation on Dakota Street from 6-7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 26. Following the reunion there will be a free concert in the War Memorial Student Union ballroom from 8-9:30 p.m. by Psalm 98:4, a Christian band from Paducah, Ky. The Wesley Foundation will also tailgate in Friendship Circle from 1-6 p.m. on Saturday.
Former members of the Spirit of the Southland band and the Students of the States plan tuneful Homecoming reunions. At 9 a.m. on Homecoming Day, the alumni musicians will gather for a rehearsal in the Music Annex band room, and the Students of the States in annex choir room. The groups will also rehearse on the field at 10 a.m., and join the current band members for a pre-game performance at 6:30 p.m. For more information, band and Students of the States alumni can contact Bob Priez at bobpriez@selu.edu.
The ringing of the university's spirit bell will call fans into the stadium for the pre-game festivities at 6:30 p.m. In addition to the Spirit of the Southland band and its alumni, the festivities will include warm-up cheers with the cheerleading squad, performances by the Lionettes, and a parade of Southeastern student athletes.
Many fraternities and sororities plan to tailgate in Friendship Circle on game day and will welcome visits by their alumni.
For more information about reunion activities, call Perise at the Alumni Center, 1-800-SLU-ALUM or (985) 549-2150, or visit www.selu.edu/alumni.
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