After six years, an absentee tradition is returning to UCLA in
the form of Homecoming. With events such as a parade, rally and the
game against Stanford, the celebration is pegged to heighten Bruin
pride.
Homecoming begins today and will continue through Sunday with
events taking place throughout Los Angeles.
The Rose Bowl will house the game against Stanford, the parade
and rally will take place in Westwood, and the Founder’s Day
luncheon will be held in Pauley Pavilion.
After receiving feedback from both students and alumni regarding
the loss of community-building traditions, Keith Brant, assistant
vice chancellor of Alumni Relations, and his colleagues formulated
the idea for the return of homecoming.
Michelle Lindsay, director of the Student Alumni
Association’s Homecoming committee and a third-year English
student, began planning and notifying student groups about the
parade in Marcy.
Obtaining permits for the parade and working with security
enforcers was another factor of preparing for the event.
The Los Angeles Police Department will be patrolling the parade.
Undercover officers will be involved to make sure public
intoxication is not an issue, said Michael Wang, Sr. Lead Officer
for the West Los Angeles Division.
Christy Royce, member of the Homecoming “Street
Team,” a subcommittee helping out with the parade, said her
group distributed flyers and checked with businesses to let them
know about the parade.
“Most (businesses) were excited and wanted to do
everything they could to help,” Royce said.
This week marked the beginning of promotions for the Homecoming
celebration. On Tuesday a game fair was held at Bruin Plaza.
Bowling down Stanford trees, goldfish tosses and a raffle were some
of the activities available to students.
Bruin football players Marcedes Lewis and Tyler Ebell joined in
by throwing passes to students for prizes.
During promotions week Lindsay ensured everything ran smoothly.
This included preparing judges who will rate the floats and
marching bands during the parade.
A stage will be set up on Broxton Avenue today at 6 p.m. and
will feature alternative radio station KROQ and punk bands. The
parade will start at 8 p.m. following the performances.
The theme of the parade will be “Wild Wild
Westwood.” Lindsay said since each organization will have a
different take on the theme, not all the floats will be western.
Over 30 student groups will participate in the parade.
The Homecoming committee decided to omit a Homecoming court from
the celebration. Lindsay cited a lack of interest as the reason for
their decision.
An SAA tailgate party will take place on Saturday at 12:30 p.m.
in Lot H of the Rose Bowl. Free lunch, drinks, and face painting
are benefits for SAA members. Admission for non-members is $5.
The tailgate party will be a chance to “have fun with
fellow Bruins and get excited for the game,” said Ariel
Hankin, director of SAA’s Member Benefits committee and a
third-year communications and psychology student. “Everyone
come, everyone is welcome.”
Homecoming festivities coincide with Parent’s Weekend,
which Brant said will bring approximately 1800 parents to the
campus.
The weekend’s activities conclude Sunday, with a
Founder’s Day luncheon in Pauley Pavilion from 11:30 a.m. to
1:30 p.m. Dr. Jorge A. Lazareff, the UCLA neurosurgeon who
separated the conjoined twins, will speak at the $20 luncheon.
Brant added that he hopes this year’s Homecoming will
encourage students to get involved in next year’s
planning.
“We should bring back traditions so that today’s
students can enjoy them like yesterday’s students
did.”
With reports from Amy Frye, Daily Bruin Senior Staff.