September 30, 2009 – News & Views

The Bishops is gearing up for Homecoming & Family Weekend on October 2-4.

Photo by Amy Allan

A Gathering of Families and Friends
Homecoming & Family Weekend ’09

It’s time to “supercharge” the campus, as Sarah Stiles, assistant director of alumni relations, and coordinator of Homecoming 2009 (a.k.a Family Weekend) likes to phrase it. Homecoming is this weekend, October 2-4, and for the first time at Ohio Wesleyan, it also is Family Weekend.

Along with the traditional Homecoming events, such as Friday night’s bonfire on the hill and Saturday’s tailgating opportunities prior to the 1 p.m. football game against Oberlin, a family breakfast at the President’s home and parent seminars will be offered throughout the weekend. Parents and families and members of the OWU community are also invited to the all-you-can-eat tailgate lunch on Saturday and to the campus-wide dinner on Friday on the JayWalk from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. In addition, Rafiki Wa Afrika will host a cultural minifest—a celebration of African and Caribbean culture—on Saturday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Willa B. Player Black Resource Center.

“For the first time, we will feature performances by student groups and opportunities for family photos to be taken with our Battling Bishop mascot during the tailgate lunch,” says Stiles.

“President Jones has set a new tradition, starting with his all-campus dinner celebration on the JayWalk following his inauguration last October,” says Stiles. “These [inclusive] events really unite the campus and bring us together as a community.” It was, in fact, Jones who encouraged OWU’s Homecoming planners to expand the event to include families. Assisting with this endeavor were Kimberlie Goldsberry, dean of students and Craig Ullom, vice president of student affairs, who organized and planned the parent seminars.

Parents are encouraged to register for the weekend in advance, but a registration table will be available onsite in the Monnett Room of the Mowry Alumni Center.

“With many different members of the campus community coming together, it’s exciting,” explains Stiles, who is in her first year of planning Homecoming/Family Weekend, but has experience with planning large-scale events, such as Alumni Weekend. “You get an energy that isn’t there on a regular day.”

Additional weekend highlights include the dedication of OWU’s Founders’ Plaza at 3:15 p.m. on Friday, Sagan National Colloquium speaker Susan Eisenhower at 4 p.m. Friday in Gray Chapel, and a Distinguished Alumni Artist show in the Ross Museum, featuring the work of Marilyn Meek Webster ’63.

For more information about the weekend events, you can visit homecoming.owu.edu.

– Christina Fesz ’12 and Pam Besel