“Homecoming” a success

-- Jc Drobac

Sponsored by University Activities Board (UAB), St. Paul Campus hosted the sixth annual Fall Fest/Homecoming on Saturday, Sept. 10, where representatives from student organizations manned tables brimming with information and promotional materials and answered questions from the university’s newcomers, returning students and interested neighbors who took part in the day’s festivities.

While Green Mill catered Fall Fest with pizza, cookies and soda to the nearly endless stream of hungry guests, lively deejays played nonstop hip-hop music throughout the four-hour event. Massive, inflatable “rides” kept kids busy as their parents meandered between student group tables getting info, promotional freebies and free blood pressure checks.

Sunny, 85-degree heat contrasted with intense wind gusts that had attendees relaxing in snippets of shade and those working the event baring skin to avoid tan lines; inside, the auditorium provided two performances, and a tarot card reader, a hypnotist and chair massage drew in other shade-lovers.

“We wanted to start a tradition [of Homecoming]...to create a sense of community,” said Phil Fuehrer, office manager of Student Life and Leadership Development.

Although he said he’d like to see more staff, faculty and students attend Fall Fest, Metropolitan State’s version of Homecoming, YeeLeng Hang, director of Student Life and Leadership Development was pleased that attendance at Fall Fest has almost consistently increased since its advent. Hang feels the cohesiveness of supporting community and Metropolitan State University’s place in the community is crucial to the event’s success, adding “Metropolitan State University doesn’t have competitive events like traditional universities, [so] this becomes a special opportunity to do what we can to show our support and get involved.” He hopes to see more community, faculty, staff and students at next year’s event.

One attendee, Bob Velez, a social science student who transferred from Brown College this fall, stressed appreciation for Metropolitan State University’s Fall Fest where he learned what extracurricular opportunities exist for him here. Velez, whose kids played nearby on inflatable rides while he browsed the information offered by each group, explained his reasoning in choosing to attend Metropolitan State University as because [it offers a] “very fair transfer credit policy,” adding he appreciates the university’s diversity and the opportunity to be more involved.

A welcome break from work, home and school obligations, Fall Fest provides students, staff and faculty an opportunity to interact and connect with each other and the community, in a fun atmosphere. Missed it this year? Look for information in early September 2006, for the 2006 Fall Fest festivities and plan to attend next year’s event.

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