VCU news

The VCU homecoming tradition returns this year with some new twists on the usual week of festivities for students, alumni and the wider community.

VCU Homecoming 2013 is infused with the theme “It’s a Ram Thing,” which aims to highlight pride in the university and to showcase the individual talents and spirit of the members of its community. A full schedule of activities runs from Jan. 28 to Feb. 2.

Tory Myles, a senior and co-director of the homecoming committee, said she and her fellow students appreciate the chance that homecoming provides to revel in being a part of the university.

“For me, homecoming is an opportunity to step back and celebrate why I came to VCU and why I’m excited to be a Ram,” Myles said.

For the first time, this year’s homecoming events will feature a homecoming parade (Saturday, Feb. 2, at 11 a.m., from the corner of Bowe and West Broad streets to Monroe Park). Among the other events are a block party (Jan. 31, noon, Commons Plaza); “VCU’s Got Talent,” a talent show (Jan. 31, 7 p.m., Commonwealth Ballroom in the University Student Commons); a homecoming concert featuring ASAP Rocky (Feb. 1, 7:30 p.m., Siegel Center); RAMpage, an outdoor festival featuring a battle of the bands-style competition (Feb. 2, noon, Commons Plaza); and “Rams Rally Point,” a party before the VCU men’s basketball game for VCU Alumni Association members (Feb. 2, 4 p.m., Siegel Center AR Lot). For a complete schedule, visit http://homecomingvcu.com/week-of-events.

The homecoming parade will include more than 20 student organizations, the homecoming court and an assortment of university and local dignitaries, among others.

Kamali Hill, a senior and director of the homecoming committee, said the parade was one of several events planned with the purpose of creating a unified celebration of homecoming that directly involved various students groups, alumni and the broader Richmond community.

“It’s a way of helping people recognize the many different organizations on campus and to recognize the diversity of this university,” Hill said. “We really want everyone coming together for this.”

That includes alumni. The university expects a spirited group of graduates to be back on campus, particularly for Friday and Saturday’s festivities, including the homecoming parade and the “Rams Rally Point” event.

“Homecoming provides a special opportunity for alumni to return – and be welcomed back home by ‘alumni-in-residence students – to their alma mater while renewing their intellectual, emotional and social connections to VCU,” said Gordon McDougall, associate vice president for alumni relations.

For more information about VCU Homecoming 2013, including ticket information for the ASAP Rocky concert, visit the homecoming website at http://homecomingvcu.com/home, its Facebook page (Homecoming VCU) or follow the Homecoming 2013 Twitter feed https://twitter.com/HomecomingVCU.

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