In the glow of a yellow spotlight on a temporary stage in the front of the Union lobby, Emily Lauher belted her mother’s advice to the back of the room.
“You can’t hurry love, no you just have to wait,” the audiology and speech sciences senior sang Thursday, backed by the other 10 members of coed a cappella group Capital Green.
Capital Green was the opening act for “Sounds of Homecoming,” one of many activities associated with the return of alumni to campus during this weekend’s Homecoming celebrations.
However, this activity was tailored for students, and featured the Spartan Dischords, Ladies First and the MSU Jazz and Pep bands.
“We’ve been doing this for five or six years now,” international relations senior Jennifer Van Dalen said. Van Dalen is in charge of spirit and traditions for the year-old University Activities Board.
Despite so many alumni coming back for Homecoming festivities, Van Dalen said this year’s goal is more student involvement.
“UAB is totally committed to reaching out to students and making it for them too,” she said.
Other events geared toward students included a hayride, a residence hall spirit decorating competition, craft night and free ice cream at the rock on Farm Lane between noon and 2 p.m. today.
At 6 p.m. today, the “Going for the Gold”-themed Homecoming parade will launch from the Hannah Community Center, 819 Abbott Road, and continue south, turning east on Grand River Avenue and south on Bogue Street before finishing at IM Sports-East. The parade will feature 130 floats.
“It’s nice to be able to come back and see all your old friends,” 2002 graduate Mike Bird said. “I’m probably going to get together with buddies and hang out, go to the bar and watch the game.”
Sandy Soifer, assistant director at the MSU Alumni Association, said many MSU departments pack the weekend with events to accommodate their alumni.
“Many schools and colleges mark the weekend with annual board meetings, with national boards and special dinners and breakfasts,” she said.
Several alumni were honored at an awards banquet Thursday and will be recognized further at the Green and White Brunch on Saturday morning, which will serve 1,000 people. Several former MSU Olympians will also be on the football field at halftime during Saturday’s game against Minnesota.
Hal King, a 1958 MSU graduate, arrived on campus Thursday. Seven family members, from Minnesota to Maine, will join King for Homecoming.
“This is the 12th year we’ve had season tickets,” the Rockford, Ill., resident said. “We’re going to go to the parade and the fireworks. This is about as fun as it gets.”
