The Xavierite
The week of September 21, 2015 is an important week on Saint Xavier University’s campus. Many students, faculty, staff, and community members come together to create, and attend events hosted by different departments of SXU.
In the past, Homecoming Week has been a favorite amongst the students and is a great way to encourage school spirit throughout the university.
Homecoming Week, an exciting and event filled week leads into the anticipated football game. On Saturday September 26, 2015, the SXU Cougars will take on Siena Heights University. Aside from the football game, there are many other programs and sporting events that will take place throughout the week.
The week begins with a Homecoming Liturgy and Spirit of Saint Xavier Awards, which is a great way to express the faith and hospitality of the university. This Liturgy will acknowledge distinguished alumni who exemplify the university’s core values: respect, excellence, compassion, service, hospitality, integrity, diversity, and learning for life.
Monday’s events include a hypnotist and a Students Today, Alumni Today (STAT) Brown Bag Project. Frederick Winters, hosted by Student Life, is a comedy hypnotist and crowd favorite. He draws in many people during the lunchtime hours to view his shows.
The STAT Brown Bag Project is hosted by Alumni and Parent Relations where students will have the opportunity to make sandwiches that will be given to shelters to feed those in need.
For Brandon Swanson, the Assistant Executive Director of Alumni and Parent Relations, Homecoming Week is about being able to get everyone involved, including students and community members alike.
“We do a lot with alums, senior students, staff and faculty, but there definitely is something where we want everyone to contribute. For Homecoming Week, this event is the Students Today, Alumni Tomorrow (STAT) Brown Bag Project. Everyone is invited to attend and it’s a good event for students looking to get involved with something,” said Swanson.
Jamie Manahan, Executive Director of Alumni and Parent Relations, explains that Alumni Relations tries to bring a new event to SXU’s campus each year. This year, Alumni Relations introduced a competition where different departments paint and decorate the wooden chairs on the library patio. The winner will be chosen during Homecoming Week.
“We want to have a lot of spirit on campus for everyone. Every year, we’re trying to do something different, like the chairs this year, and every year we try to add a new activity we know that will inspire people to get involved and to come together as a community,” said Manahan.
One notable Alumni Relation’s event occurred at the homecoming halftime show in 2010, which has been uploaded to YouTube and can still be viewed online. During that year, many students, staff, faculty, and even President Wiseman joined in for a halftime flash mob, brining school spirit and enjoyment to the spectators at the game.
Students might find this video to be of great enjoyment, and perhaps would like to see such an activity return to the university’s home football games.
Ali Zaharris, Assistant Director for Programs in the Student Life Office was in charge of some of the organization for Homecoming Week events and shares some insight and ideas about the programs.
These events are created with the students in mind, hoping that everyone will be able to attend at least one Homecoming Week event.
“I think that Homecoming is important because it’s still in the beginning of the year and students have already made some connections, especially first-year students; they are beginning to meet some people who could [potentially] be their friends for long time. It is also important because it’s a good way to gather students together to show school spirit. There are a variety of events that are focused towards all different types of students,” said Zaharris.
Homecoming Week is a great time for students to meet new people and try out new things. For Zaharris, the hypnotist is one of the top programs she would like to be in attendance for, in addition to the football game.
She explains that she has never seen a hypnotic show, which is probably common amongst many students at SXU. The turnout was a great success and defintely got the audience involved and entertained.
Zaharris also explains that neither her high school nor college had a football team, so she is excited to be able to attend a college game. There are many events held throughout the week and it is the hopes of the organizers and planners that students attend and enjoy them.
Another exciting homecoming event is a concert performed by Jason Levasseur, a singer and songwriter who will appear live on the Smith-Morris Quad on Wednesday September 23.
For students who are interested in discovering new music, or hanging out with friends, this would be the ideal event for them.Students can come out and enjoy time with friends while listening to great music.
On Wednesday, Spirit of Mercy Day, all students are excused from their noon classes with the hopes that students, staff, and faculty will attend a special mass for this special day. For students looking to express the university’s faith and tradition, this homecoming week event is a great event for them.
There are many sports events occurring throughout the week, the hypnotist, Jason Levasseur, Spirit of Mercy Day, Comics for Cougars, the annual 5k on the day of homecoming, and the well anticipated football game.
Julie Gardner
Senior News Editor