To the editor:
In response to the letter from Dan Kramer (A '03) (Sept. 22).
The issue of the scheduling of Homecoming is always difficult. Let me explain the constraints.
We play only four home football games so there are only four possibilities. In addition to homecoming, we also need to schedule Parents' Weekend during one of these four games.
Given that the Jewish holidays essentially fall during the football season and cover ten days, there is a high probability that at least one of the four football dates will be in close proximity to either Rosh Hashana or Yom Kippur.
This year, the first game fell on Rosh Hashana. We did not want to schedule either Homecoming or Parents' Weekend on this date. That leaves only three other possibilities.
The fourth game falls so late in the season that both the Parents Program and the Alumni Association are not anxious to have it for either Homecoming or Parents' Weekend.
For a variety of reasons, Parents' Weekend should fall ideally in mid-October. This essentially leaves one date for Homecoming.
We ran into the same problem last year and tried to avoid conflicting with the Jewish holidays by scheduling Homecoming and Parents' Weekend together.
This met with complaints from both students and alumni who thought too much was going on during the same weekend.
Students were particularly conflicted with spending time with their visiting families or participating in Homecoming activities.
So now you understand why it is difficult to avoid these conflicts. At least a few alumni will plan to spend Yom Kippur on campus and participate in Hillel services. I realize that this is not an attractive alternative for most people.
I hope you now understand that conflicts like this are close to unavoidable and will occur every now and then. We are neither ignorant nor indifferent to the issues that you raise.
Please accept my best wishes for a happy, healthy, and sweet New Year.
Best regards,
Lawrence Bacow
President, Tufts University
