University of North Alabama - Diorama Yearbook

“One big family Record alumni crowd returns for Fun, Family and Football by Paul Maxwell A persistent cold rain couldn ' t damp- en the " Fun, Family and Football " planned for Homecoming weekend, October 29-30. An unprecedented number of alumni braved the cold and damp to make this arguably the most successful homecoming ever. Dr. Kem Jones, director of alumni relations, said, " We had hoped for good weather, but other than that it couldn ' t have turned out better. " Jones ' office made a big push to get this year ' s record alumni crowd onto campus. For the first time ever all Greek letter society chapters, current and inactive, held orga- nized reunions. A committee of one hun- dred local Greek alums foraged for current addresses for their out-of-town brothers and sisters in a concentrated effort that paid off big. " It was thrilling for the alumni to see not only members of their own chapters but also ail of the people they were in the Greek system with as well, " Jones said. This focus on Greek reunions coincided with the twentieth anniversary of the Greek system at the university. Jones said there was an equal emphasis on getting children of alums to come to UNA ' S Athletic Hostesses support the football, bas- ketball, and baseball teams. Not originally scheduled to appear in the Homecoming Parade, the hostesses boarded the UNA Alumni trolley to fill in for entries that were unable to be a part of the parade due to the inclement weather. Photo by Shannon Wells. campus. " Homecoming is all about fami- ly—the immediate family and the UNA family. We are hoping, too, that when these young people reach college age they ' ll remember having a good time when they visited here. " An estimated one hundred and fifty children accompanied their par- ents to homecoming activities. " Homecoming is all about family-- the immediate family and the UNA family. " The student body went all out to wel- come the returnees. Twenty-three different groups participated in homecoming compe- tition. Nineteen banners lined the walls of the University Center, and student groups decorated merchants ' windows all along| Court Street. Kim Mauldin, associate director of stu-J dent life, said she felt that group participa- tion was the best ever, mainly because firsi place awards went out to men ' s, women ' ; and co-ed groups for each event. " The groups ' competitive spirit and the enthusi4 asm impressed me. They had just come of of a very busy week of National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week events, and they all managed to switch gears beautifully. " Mauldin is proud of the fact that the high turnout for the homecoming step show netted over $500 for the United Way. " That ' s strictly from admissions.. .at $1 per person. " Nine groups competed in the show; one was a last minute entry. Kappa Kappa Psi, the Pride of Dixie marching band ' s service organization, asked to be included even though they wouldn ' t be judged. " They ' ll be returning next year, " Mauldin said. Saturday morning ' s parade went ahead as scheduled in spite of the rain. Mauldin said that the athletic hostesses and several (Continued on page 1 7) Waving to the crowd, Alabama Governor Jim Folsom, Jr., rides by during the Homecoming Parade in downtown Florence as the Grand Marshall of the event. The parade followed a route through Court Street before arriving a Coby Hall. Photo by Shannon Wells. 14 StudMt .i^c ”