The Denisonian

Issue date: 9/23/08 Section: Editorial

This year's changes to Parents' Weekend and Homecoming are leaving some Denison students a little confused. Now, alumni will be waiting in line with our parents for reservations at the Granville Inn. But come Homecoming in October, instead of seeing die-hard alumni from 1968, we will see familiar faces from last year's graduating class. This seems a little convoluted. Recent alumni will have to decide between attending Big Red Weekend and Homecoming, and parents who are spending time and money to visit their kids at Denison will have to dodge alumni for parking spots outside their kids' dorms. It will be interesting to see the number of alumni that come back to campus for what has in the past been strictly for parents. In the related front-page article, Vice President of Institutional Advancement Julie Houpt, said she hopes that this new setup will both encourage and allow more alumni to return to campus to participate in both new and old events. She also said she hopes parents and alumni will join to celebrate Denison. Isn't that the same purpose as homecoming? Isn't that why Denison hosts a huge gala in Slayter - to celebrate Denison? We highly doubt most of our parents want to "celebrate" Denison when they come for parents weekend. That weekend, for some students, is the only time they get to see their parents during the semester. And for parents, the weekend is the time to see their child in their element. Parents' Weekend has a much different atmosphere compared to revelry of Homecoming. Parents' weekend should not be as much about Denison as it is about Denison students. Likewise, Homecoming should be for all alumni, not just those who we knew when we were freshmen. Administrators, please take a good look at this plan for the future. Does it make sense?

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