Homecoming and Parents' Weekend, two staples of October on The Hill, will be combined this year in a move to ease scheduling concerns. While it may seem that the combination weekend was created more by chance than by thorough planning, such a combination has the potential to be the start of a very successful tradition for current Jumbos, alumni and parents. The new parents' and Homecoming combined weekend will enable all involved to experience a few days of excitement and Jumbo spirit, a healthy combination if there ever was one.
All three groups involved will benefit from the combination weekend. Students will have more options on their plate for activities, whether or not their parents come to town. For those whose parents can not make it, there will be sports events and celebrations throughout the weekend. On the other hand, for the lucky (or perhaps unlucky) Jumbo whose parents can make it to town, there will be plenty of events to enjoy with, and not in spite of, one's parents.
Parents will be treated to an exhibition of a campus in full bloom, both in terms of fall foliage and Jumbo pride. They will be able to see proud alumni from throughout the country who have traveled back to their alma mater to show their love and devotion to Tufts. Also on display will be school spirit that far exceeds any other time on campus, with students and alums alike dutifully donning the brown and blue to cheer on their classmates and teams. In all, the grand display of pride and tradition will be enough to reassure any parent that the Hill is the right place for his child.
Alumni returning to campus will be greeted with a vibrant and welcoming community of students and parents. Many of the older alumni are parents themselves or may be friends with parents, and thus the combination of weekends gives them added incentive to take the trip to Medford (and write the check to Ballou). Many alumni might also find it easier to relate to students when their (similarly aged) parents are present. The added connection thus fostered will pay tremendous dividends in terms of commitment to the University throughout the future.
Some may grumble about missed tailgating opportunities or a tighter schedule when it comes to next year's weekend, but what the new arrangement really boils down to is one that will result in more school spirit and more fun for everyone. We are lucky enough to be able to enjoy this Hill while we are here; we are even luckier when we can share it with others. Now that's Jumbo-sized thinking.
