EDITOR’S NOTE: In celebration of Homecoming Week, we are running an article from the archives of The Daily Utah Chronicle. We are taking this step into our history as an opportunity to remind ourselves what makes the U great. We invite you to take a look with us.
Originally published in The Daily Utah Chronicle, Friday Oct. 25, 1963
Utes swung into action last night, preparing the year’s big welcome for visiting alumni.
FRATERNITY AND SORORITY house decorations were up at 6 p.m. with traditional noise-making, color, and excitement highlighting competition. “Alumni in Orbit Around the U” is the theme for activities, and various groups around campus have spent hours planning and building decorations to suit the theme.
Yesterday evening alumni classes got together, exchanged old memories of University days. A special dedication of the class of 58’s gift was held: Hugh Pinnock, then school president, made the formal presentation to University president A. Ray Olpin. This class is the largest graduating on record. Alums of the following years met for dinner: 1923, ‘28, ‘33, ‘38, ‘43, ‘48, ‘53, ‘58.
Thursday evening Quartets Calvalcade Program presented top-notch musical entertainment, manifesting harmony between alums and Utes. Shirley Glauser and Forrest Umberger presented ten humorous song-dance-pantomime-routines as they introduced participants. Theme for the sketches was “Love as it Ages.”
Today’s homecoming events notably include the Interspacial Pentathalon at 2:30 p.m. in which students and alums are invited to participate.
The Pentathalon will include an egg throw and centipede race along with various other games held on the Ballif lawn.
SLATED AND AFTER dark hours are the Pi Phi-Sig Nu street dance, traditionally a popular event, and a roaring bonfire sponsored by the dormitories, both beginning at 8 p.m. All students are invited to both affairs, which will include the presence of the newly-formed Ute-Tahnas, spirit raising drill team.
The spurs are prepared for their annual Chrysanthemum sale, with distribution points set up in the Union lobby and the Library. Chrysanthemums will be sold at all entrances to the Homecoming game.
Saturday night: the annual Homecoming Dance, featuring this year the Misty Miss June Christy. One of the biggest semi-formal dances of the year, Utes and alums are expected in record numbers.
Paul Cracroft, alumni president, spoke for the old Utes Thursday when he said the the Chronicle:
“I am persuaded that what many, perhaps most, of our alumni remember about the ‘U’ is not classwork but horseplay.”
Homecoming is the time for such memories.