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By Linda Schmidt Can tradition be making a comeback on the Berkeley campus? If Matt Aguiar ’05 and the 18 other members of the Student Homecoming Team have anything to do with it, the answer is a resounding yes. For the first time in 40 years, the Cal campus saw a full week of student-oriented homecoming activities last October. “We couldn’t do what you would think of as a ‘Midwestern-style’ homecoming, with a king and queen,” Aguiar says. “That just wouldn’t fly here.” Accordingly, events throughout the week were decidedly eclectic--a tactic the team devised to provide ways for students of nearly every interest to participate. “We couldn’t do it alone; we knew we had to get a lot of different groups to help us out,” says Aguiar. The team ultimately folded nearly 100 student organizations into the mix; many put on events of their own. There was a banner competition and a football game, to be sure, and a free screening of Animal House. But Hillel offered a freshman reception, kosher barbecue, and Shabbat services. Students for Justice in Palestine sponsored a lecture and discussion covering the 1980s-era campus movement for divestment from South Africa. There were meetings of the Berkeley Democrats, Golden Key Honor Society, and Interfraternity Council.  No less than three cultural events showcased ethnic dance and performance, and community-service activities were a big draw. Students competing in the Cal Can Competition collected 1,846 pounds of canned food to donate to the Community Food Bank, but not before arranging everything from soup to nuts into the shapes of Bay Area landmarks. Cal Corps Public Service Center hosted a volunteer recruitment fair. The Berkeley Indonesian Student Association traded lunch for used books, which were donated to students in Indonesia, and a toy drive and a blood drive benefited local organizations.  Even traditional players like the Rally Committee branched out from their expected roles: in addition to a Friday night rally in Haas Pavilion and a midnight songfest at the base of the Campanile, Rally Comm organized a colloquium featuring Nobel laureates and Pulitzer Prize winners.  A number of activities brought otherwise disparate branches of the Cal family closer together, such as the Jeopardy-inspired “Battle of the Brains,” which pitted seven faculty members against a team of students trying to answer questions on topics ranging from current events to Cal trivia. (Thanks to some daring last-minute wagering, the student team, including Olympic gold-medal winner Jonny Moseley and ASUC president Kris Primm, emerged victorious.) “We sent student ambassadors to all of the alumni reunions happening that weekend, as well,” says Aguiar. “A lot of great connections were made. It’s important for students to know that alumni are still involved. When you graduate, it doesn’t end there.”  Starting with a budget of $18,000, a tireless development crew helped the Homecoming team pull in another $28,000 worth of support. Fenton’s donated thousands of scoops of ice cream; Southwest Airlines provided gift ticket vouchers; and many campus venues waived fees for use of their facilities. Ken Kragen ’58, a former Student Homecoming chair and now an entertainment executive in Los Angeles, provided assistance in all stages of planning the week’s activities. Kragen’s invaluable personal support helped the team focus their efforts, Aguiar says. His greatest advice? “Whatever you do, just do it big.”  Recruiting has already begun for next year’s Student Homecoming Team, and Aguiar hopes to expand the week’s activities when he returns as chairman in 2004. “We were going to do an outdoor movie night in Faculty Glade,” says Aguiar. “It didn't quite work out this time, but I’d love to see it happen next year.” This new incarnation of Student Homecoming succeeded in sparking new interest in an old idea. “This year we mainly wanted to create awareness around campus and in the community, and foster anticipation for next year,”says Aguiar. “With luck, when students hear ‘homecoming’ now, they won’t wonder ‘What’s that?’ They’ll think ‘Oh, cool.’” |
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