University of Texas Austin - Cactus Yearbook (Austin, TX)

Page 20 text:

Homecoming Returns After a 25 year absence, the Homecoming Task Force brings back a football institution In 1962, John F. Kennedy was president, the Beatles were at the forefront of the Brit- ish invasion, and Homecoming was still an annual UT tradition. But in the words of Bob Dylan, the times were a changin ' , and by the end of that turbulent era, JFK, the Beatles and Homecoming were all relegated to the history books. However, in the fall of 1987, Michelle Gray, marketing senior, decided to change part of that. She formed a committee to bring students and alumni together in the return of a tradition Homecoming. Gray headed up the Homecoming Task Force ' 88. The task force sent out 350 letters to campus organizations to involve them in the planning of events. At their first meeting, 50 organization members came to show their support and by the second meeting this num- ber had doubled. The task force scheduled many activities to promote Homecoming, but the most popular was a talent show that benefited disabled students on campus. This was the activity that got the most student response, Gray said. The talent show raised hundreds of dollars and many campus organizations en- tered the contest. Other activities included a breakfast with Longhorn football coach Da- vid McWilliams. The committee also started a new tradition called Pin the Yellow Rose. This gave UT students a chance to buy tickets for a yellow rose to pin on their date at the game. The task force hoped this would become a tra- ditional part of Homecoming. The task force raised all the money to sponsor the events themselves. The Univer- sity provided no financial support, so the committee relied on an ad book, car washes and corporate sponsors to fund the events. Former students also offered their support and help in any way they could give it. Alumni were very receptive to the Home- coming idea, Gray said. Although the task force put up signs, ran ads in The Daily Texan and tried to pass the word around, still few people knew that UT once again had a Homecoming. I think for a first year try we pretty much got the student support we expected but hopefully it will improve over the years, Student Involve- ment Committee chairman and studio art freshman, Carey Smith, said. I really didn ' t know what to expect out of Homecoming. Though I knew when it was , I really didn ' t know if it was going to be that big of a deal, Christine Stewart, pharmacy junior said. Homecomings of the future were already being planned as new chairmen were chosen and new committees formed. Some ideas placed on the backburner, such as a Home- coming court and parade, might soon find themselves a part of the tradition. The goal in 1988 was just to simply let people know that Homecoming had returned. Each chairperson worked many extra hours to make sure Homecoming was a sue- 1 cess. Although Gray, along with the other I chairpersons, was glad Homecoming was over, each said the hard work and effort was well worth the chance to be a part of bring- ing back a tradition. I think UT needs tra- dition, Gray said. It ' s important for stu- dents to feel a part of a school as large as Texas. Jennifer Jones 16 Homecoming

Page 19 text:

. - c : -- STANDING ROOM ONLY: Students crowd onto the 40 bus. Packed shuttle buses were one of the many symptoms of the over- crowding that plagued the cam- pus. photo by George Bridges. NEXT IN LINE: Undergradu- ate business students wait near the Graduate School of Business reading rooms to pick up their registration materials. photo by An Pettigrew. CHECK, PLEASE: Students stand in line at the Tex- as Union check-cashing counter. photo by George Bridges Enrollment 15

Page 21 text:

TEXAS TRADITION: Former cheerleaders conduct students in the Whisper Cheer at the Homecoming pep rally. photo by Kllaine Ferioli. STAND UP AND CHEER: Danny Ruiz, pharmacy senior, and Candee Emig, science education junior, lead the West Mall crowd in a cheer during the Homecoming pep rally. photo by Ellaine Ferioli. YELLOW ROSE OF TEXAS: President William Cunning- ham pins a yellow rose corsage on UT Sweetheart Amy Thomas, finance senior, while his wife Isabella looks on. photo by Robert Kirkham arm ' tadr ft duna ad studio an Homecoming 17