When it comes to Homecoming, Alumni Relations Director of Classes and Reunions Katherine Lowe can't stop gushing.
"Homecoming is all about students and alumni connecting with the University, and we are all very excited about it," she said.
Unfortunately, she and her fellow administrators may be the only ones who share this sentiment.
When it comes to students, the lineup of symposiums, speeches and awards ceremonies just does not seem to add up to a desirable weekend.
Wharton sophomore Adam Victor said that although he went to the football game last year, he did not attend any other events.
"All I know is that there is a football game, a soccer game and a lot of good parties," Victor said.
Tom Recht, an Anthropology graduate student, said that he never really "got into Homecoming."
"I think it is more of an undergraduate thing," Recht said.
Part of the problem may be a lack of publicity.
"Students never seem to be too terribly aware of homecoming events," Lowe said.
So for this year's Homecoming, centered on the Penn vs. Princeton football game on Saturday, officials are focusing on getting students involved in events aside from the game.
"This year we are putting a major emphasis on including students, and I think we are going to be very successful," Lowe said.
Typically only a select few of the Penn community actively participate in most events past the football game.
Some students tend to shy away from the weekend's activities because they believe it to be more focused on alumni.
"We are really trying to make this a University party and not just an alumni party," Lowe said.
She added that although there are many events focused on alumni, Homecoming is not considered a prime time to collect donations from graduates.
"This weekend is all about coming home and connecting with Penn," Lowe said, adding that donations are primarily focused on Alumni Weekend in May, when many classes come back for reunions.
Organizers are hoping to attract students, alumni and faculty through events like a faculty symposium entitled "Youth and Aging: Penn Integrates Knowledge Locally and Globally."
Neville Strumpf, chairman of the Faculty Senate, said that the symposium "grew out of an idea from the Faculty Senate for some kind of intellectual gathering that links the faculty and their work to [President Amy Gutmann's plan] and the integration of knowledge."
The symposium will be split into two panels, the first on the subject of youth and the second on aging. Each will feature 12 faculty-member panelists, one from each of the University's schools.
Strumpf said that although there will be a moderator, it will be a very informal event.
"It will be like you are talking with intelligent friends at a cocktail party," she said.
The event will be book-ended by opening remarks from Gutmann and closing remarks from Provost Ron Daniels.
"We have had a lot of fun putting this together, and it truly represents the diversity of scholarship at Penn," Strumpf said.
The symposium will be held in the Harold Prince Theatre in the Annenberg Center and is open-admission. It is set to start at 1:30 p.m. and will conclude at 6 p.m. with a reception to follow.
Another major event on Friday is a lecture from 1979 Wharton graduate and advertising guru Donny Deutsch at 3:30 p.m. followed by a book-signing and cocktail reception.
Friday night's activities include the Alumni Award of Merit Gala and dinner as well as a performance from the Penn Symphony Orchestra.
Saturday's events include more group and school-specific programs and tailgates before the football game. In addition, the Philly Fest on the Green will run from 10 a.m. to noon with performances from local string bands as well as 14 student groups in front of Van Pelt Library.
In terms of sports, Saturday is centered around the Penn vs. Princeton football game at noon, as well as scrimmages from both the men's and women's basketball teams, an ice hockey team alumni game, a Homecoming two-mile run/walk and the Penn Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
