Homecoming Week activities this year reached, and may have exceeded, the students’ and coordinators’ expectations – especially for Kelli Lemon, the assistant director of student activities programs and events.
“I felt like we finally got it,” Lemon said. “Not only are we not a commuter school anymore, we’re also the second-largest in-state university in Virginia. But we got spirit. I just felt like everybody came out and had some spirit. We need to continue these kinds of traditions.”
Lemon worked closely with faculty and students every Thursday this spring to plan for the week’s activities. These included the Spades Poker Tournament, the VCU Spirit Scavenger Hunt, Homecoming Court Meet and Greet, The Roots and John Legend concert, the Chill ‘N Grill plus all the parties after the basketball game.
The homecoming committee, headed by a staff and student chair for each individual event, worked throughout last semester to develop plans within its budget and to execute those plans for Homecoming Week.
“We kind of throw ideas out there, and the students ultimately make the decisions,” Lemon said.
Nevertheless, students such as Dorrick Atkinson, a senior accounting major, and some event coordinators offered suggestions for future years.
“We need to have a bigger event the night after the basketball game – kind of a final event to culminate homecoming week,” Atkinson said. “Maybe we could have a faculty vs. students basketball game where the students pick out which teachers they want to play.”
Brian Liu, a senior psychology major, said he not only thinks the homecoming committee should plan events that appeal to a wider range of students and faculty, but he also has concerns about the level of school spirit displayed this year.
“We have school spirit, but there could be a lot more,” Liu said. “I blame the crowd at The Roots’ concert for not appreciating them enough. More people should have been dancing.”
Timothy Reed, director of University Student Commons and Activities, said he hopes next year to see more publicity for the events and more involvement, particularly from faculty and alumni.