OCU’s 2020 Homecoming has been postponed.
The OCU Homecoming Committee decided to delay Homecoming events, previously scheduled for Oct. 26-30, due to power outages on campus and throughout Oklahoma City. The committee chose to condense the activities into a single day of celebration, now scheduled for Nov. 13.
Allison Hudson, assistant director of student engagement, said the date was chosen in hopes of giving students time to focus on other responsibilities.
“After the ice storm, which was absolutely the most 2020 thing that could have possibly happened, we looked through the calendar for the rest of the semester trying to find a good time to have it,” Hudson said. “We didn’t want to overshadow the election or finals week, so this date was the best way to consolidate that.”
Hudson said scheduling details are still being finalized.
“It’s been difficult to fully communicate with the power outages, but we will be meeting virtually to iron everything out,” Hudson said. “That information will be coming out pretty soon.”
Hudson said the committee hopes the Homecoming activities achieve an overall sense of solidarity and positivity within the campus community.
“Our student committee is dedicating so much time to this,” Hudson said. “They’re wanting to bring that sense of joy and the feeling of community and family our university represents. We want everyone to join in and take part in that and celebrate with us.”
Trae Trousdale, mass communications/political science senior and executive director of Homecoming, said the committee plans to include as many traditional Homecoming activities as possible within the limited timeframe and virtual format.
Trousdale said the day will include a distribution of Homecoming shirts outside the caf in Tom and Brenda McDaniel University Center and the Lip Sync competition.
“It’s going to be a true all-day affair,” Trousdale said. “We’re still trying to figure out how to do that while still maintaining COVID-19 restrictions. We also hope to maintain the classic Stars on the Plaza event, but since we cannot actually go to the plaza because of the pandemic, we are working with university officials and administration to allow businesses to come on campus when we need them.”
Trousdale said the Homecoming court election will occur throughout the week leading up to the celebration.
“Due to the lack of power here on campus, we didn’t necessarily see it as free and/or fair to host the election here last week,” Trousdale said. “It will now happen leading up to the day of Homecoming. So, in a way, that aspect of Homecoming has been affected, but we are attempting to fit as much as we can into one day.”
Trousdale said the committee will do all they can to uphold school spirit and high energy throughout the day. He said he is proud of the committee’s dedication to bringing Homecoming to campus, despite the challenges and delays.
“They were selected as a committee back in March, so our current stage of planning looks drastically different than it did last week, which already looked drastically different than it did last year,” Trousdale said. “I think it shows how they truly want to give back and work hard for our students to provide some shred of normalcy for what it means to be an OCU student, and what it means take pride in our institution.”
Trousdale said 2020’s Homecoming celebration showcases the student body’s strength and resilience.
“We have faced so many challenges throughout the past few years, but especially this year, from a pandemic to civil unrest throughout the country,” Trousdale said. “I think the willingness to continue to persevere speaks to our character and determination as a student body.”
Trousdale said he encourages students to check their emails for further Homecoming updates because that will be the Homecoming Committee’s main form of communication.
“I hope everyone can tune in to our virtual Kick Off and Lip Sync celebrations, and engage with us throughout the day outside the caf on campus, and be the Star family we typically are, even given the extenuating circumstances.”
Leave a Reply