CRAZY FOR HOMEC0~1 ING For many friend and families of the Harding community, Homecoming was more than simply a fall gathering. It was a time to come to campus and celebrate what made Harding a home a\\'ay from home for past and future generations. Through the decades, emphasis was placed on different activities surrounding Homecoming at Harding. Some of the activities became Homecoming traditions, ewn through years of change and transition. According to Chancellor Dr. Da,·id Burks, as a senior in 1965, Homecoming rc,·oh-ed around the annual musical performed by the theatre and music departments. ·'I remember the big one back when I \\'as a senior was ·The King and I,' and I just thought it ,ms spectacular," Burks said. "The difference then was that the students would all go. and they all dressed up. Female students ,rnuld ha,-c formal dresses on, and guys would ha,·e on a really nice suit or tux. It was a big dress-up occa ion." \lore casual e\'ents such as tailgating at football games "ith social clubs also helped define Homecoming over recent years, according to Sarah Bobo, young alumni associate and Harding alumna. "I remember the guy that started tailgating with clubs~ he was in [Gamma Sigma Phi]," Bobo said. "I think it was that fall of 201 3 when [tailgating] got a lot bigger. That's when people started tailgating at Homecoming and e,·cry other game." l\[ore interest used to be placed on who would ,,·in Homecoming queen rather than who would win the Homecoming game, according to Burks. By Raneisha Stassin ·'\\'e had a queen selected, and it was a big deal in the Petitjean," Burks said. ·'It seems like hack then the queen was selected by the football team. whereas today it's ,·oted on by the entire student body. The football game \\'asn't as big then because (the program) had just started back up and was really brand ne\\', so it didn't haw that same feel to it that it docs today." According to Dr. Rich Brmrn, marketing department chairman and a Harding alumnus, Homecoming took on a slightly diffcrC'nt meaning in his mind as a faculty member than it had ,,·hen he was a student. ··r enjoy seeing people when they come back," Brown said. ''I think it's more important for the people who are not still at Harding, because they can come back and it brings back a lot of happy memories for them.·· Homecoming ,ms meant to presel'\·e the closeknit community at Harding, according to Bobo. "\ \'c want people to keep coming back,'. Bobo said. "Harding isn'tjust here for the students. [IL is] htrc for the alumni and anyone that's eYer touched Harding in any ,,·ay. \\'e're all family." Despite the societal changes that occurred around Homecoming through Harding's history. the O\'erall purpose remained the same, according to Burks. 'The one thing that's constam,,ith Homecoming that I think is constant with Harding is the fact that Harding has always been about building relationships," Burks said. "As years go by, and you ha,·e Homecoming and other acti\·ities, it's a chance to renew those relarionships. That ,,·as true then, and thaL's true novv." Bobby Child, played by senior Thomas Williams, and Polly Baker, played by senior Renee Maynard, twirl around while singing "Embraceable You," on Oct. 2 7, in the George S. Benson Auditorium. Maynard and Williams were active participants in H arding 's theatre program and were also Spring Sing ho sts. I Photo by Macy Pate Follies girls, played by freshman Sarah Arbuckle, sophomores Shelbi Bridges and Sara Berglund, freshman Robbi Selvidge and junior Sydney Mann, perform a kick line. The musical required three student choreographers due to having 14 musical numbers. I Photo by Macy Pate C:01cbO)'S, pla)'ed by sophomore J ustice Laws. ji-es/zman Jason Lightfoot, senior Duncan .\lichael and junior C:rant .\!alone. sing ·'Bidin' .\ly Time.··. The show's calchline was "/he 111ostfun musical thal)'Oll have 11e1•er heard of" I Photo by Macy Pate )) > ':>Tl'llF.\T LI FF.
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