ORU plans for alumni invasion
By Eva-Marie Gooden

It's difficult to imagine as you juggle classes, study sessions and chapel attendance - and all the while managing to weave a spirit-filled social life into the mix - but one of these days you're going to graduate.

And as tough as it is to picture it, someday, after you graduate, you'll be cookin' along in a great career or doing whatever it is God leads you to do in this world, and suddenly you'll wake up one morning and - hard as this is to grasp right now - you'll be gripped by a burning desire to…

Return. To. Campus.

Yes, that's right. At some point - maybe at many points - as an alumnus, you're going to want to come back and see it all again, catch up with your old roommate, find out if your former professors are still around and see if they miss your smiling mug in the front row of class.

"Homecoming, to me, is mostly an alumni-type event. And I don't say that to disparage any of the students that are on campus, because you know, it's all about them, too, but they're there all the time. You know, it's a chance for us to kind of have one special time when we all come back and see the old sites and visit the old haunts, that sort of thing." - Ken Lane (80)

"I love it. It's a time to get together with friends, a time to get to see faculty members who really became like family when I was there. And it's a very enjoyable experience…" -Darrell Durbrow (77)

"I went for my 10th-year reunion. Yeah, it was pretty special to come back and see it. …A group of friends that I came to school with [made it special]." - David Stack (92)

So that's what Homecoming's all about from an alumni point of view. And this year, the Alumni Association really has pulled out all the stops to encourage past students to come back and "Celebrate the Legacy" they share with others. This is it: the biggest alumni event of the year. And these are just a few of the many activities, food fests (Homecoming is about 75 percent food) and perks available to visitors. Homecoming Discount Mania

Fly with the (Golden) Eagles…Homecoming perks for our returning alumni begin with a 10 percent airfare discount on Southwest, available with a top-secret reference I.D. code that only the Alumni Association has the power to reveal.

Load up on the loot…Drop by the Campus Store to watch as alums splurge on all sorts of necessities - from ORU sweatshirts and inspirational books to stuffed squirrels - as they capitalize on their 10 percent Homecoming discount, February 7 and 8. And while supplies last, children who visit the store receive free balloons, so bring in your little brothers and sisters to cash in. Tray magnifique…To indulge today's esteemed grads, Sodexho serves up special pricing for alumni and their families at only $3.25 per meal, per person. Rub elbows with alumni in the cafeteria between noon and 2 p.m. and 5 and 7 p.m. on Friday, and again between 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Goodnight, sweet graduates…These days, you might find "up till dawn" study sessions are the norm, but alumni are still catching up on all the sleep they lost here at ORU. Lucky for them, special discounts are available at nearby hotels. Homecoming Attractions President's Alumni Banquet…

President Richard Roberts addresses the crowd Saturday, Feb. 8 at 4:30 p.m. in the cafeteria as alumni are treated to a free meal, and three alumni are honored with the fifth annual Alumnus of the Year awards.

Golden Eagles vs. Southern Utah…After the banquet, the party moves on to the Mabee Center as the crowd catches some center court excitement, just like in the good old days. The alumni portion of Homecoming wraps up with a reception on the court right after the game.

"Hey: I remember you!"…Once you're an alum, Homecoming is one of the links that keeps you in touch with other grads. There are also continuing education opportunities, the alumni vs. faculty/staff basketball games and much more to lure you back

Excited about Homecoming 2003? Find out more details at alumniweb.oru.edu.

Finals Schedule