The 2017 Seton Hill University Homecoming and Family Weekend will be held Oct. 12-15. It will include several events such as a pep rally, the Ghost Lantern Tour, a campus community project and more.
On MySHU, formerly Griffin’s Lair, there will be a registration link with more information for the events under the Happenings tab or on OrgSync. Ticket pickup will be in the Student Life Office Oct. 12-13 in Maura Hall, room 223 from 8 a.m.- 4 p.m. and also The Griffin Nest in Maura Hall Oct. 13 from 4 p.m.- 6 p.m. and Oct. 14 from 11 a.m.- 1 p.m. Ticketed events include Ghost Lantern Tours, Dueling Piano Dinner and Whiskey Rebellion Smash.
“In trying to entertain in various ways, there’s something for everybody,” said Mary Cox, director of alumni relations. A service project early Saturday morning, a Crime Lab 101 classroom presentation, a tailgate competition and more will be included in the events.
Late Friday, a Dueling Pianos Dinner will host a dinner entertainment with a variety of music, and it’s intended to be very interactive. “They say in their publicity that the audience really becomes the show, so we’ll have a buffet dinner and we’ve got lots of people signed up. It’s one of many things that is not yet sold out,” said Cox.
There’s a Ghost Lantern Tour Thursday that’s sold out and a pep rally. The homecoming game against Gannon University starts at 4 p.m. Saturday and the Homecoming King and Queen will be introduced before kickoff.
“That’s different from past years,” said Cox. “It would be a shame to have people come when the game’s half over. It used to be halftime; they’d miss the whole thing, so they’re going to crown the king and queen before the game starts and that all happens out on the field.”
On Saturday, Barbara Flowers, professor of forensic science, is presenting with some students for a sold out Crime Lab 101. “It’s something that they’ve done in the classroom before, so examples of how they investigate a scene maybe. It’s intended to be very informative and give folks the opportunity to see a little about our forensics program,” said Cox.
On Offutt Field, the tailgate competition will be on Urania Avenue, where the street will be shut down. “They have very strict rules about the competition and how they can compete to be the best overall, the best Griffin Pride, best decorations and then the best food, that will contain bacon,” said Cox.
“We’d really like to get some student clubs to sign up to be in the competition,” Cox said. “We have a bunch of different alumni groups that are having tents, so like people in the MBA program who’ve graduated, they’re gonna do a tent, and we just have a general alumni tent.”
The Whiskey Rebellion Smash is “different things happening relevant to that historic time period. We have students dressed in costumes who’ll be there,” said Cox. SHU alumni group Lovebettie will be the entertainment for the event. “It’ll be nice to have them back doing their thing, and they’re glad to be back doing it too,” said Cox. Group members include Alexandra Naples, C.T. Fields, Shawn King and Nicholas Quinn.
Ashley Kunkle, new to alumni relations, said “maintaining that connectedness to the university” is beneficial for individuals involved in the weekend because “it’s really about just being able to be there and continue that relationship with the school that you spent four years of your life at, some more, some less.”
Mariah Betz, a sophomore creative writing major, said, “I think it’s good to know about these things, that way if you want to go, you can go. It’s good to get involved and get out, go with friends, have fun.”
Published By: Paige Parise