VOLUME 13, NO. 3     June 2001

Homecoming 2000

Although the calendar had turned to November, it felt like spring as hundreds of alumni and guests returned to campus Nov. 3-4 for Homecoming Weekend 2000. Pessimists were calling for a snow emergency plan, but sunshine and unseasonably warm temperatures made it easy to relax and "fall back" into the WPI spirit.

The weekend kicked off with a Friday night pep rally ("E to the X, D-Y, D-X") and a Zero-Year Reunion gathering for WPI’s newest alumni: the Class of 2000. The Class of 1995 celebrated its Five-Year Reunion with a traditional backyard barbecue at Higgins House. On the Quad, students and alumni congregated for tailgate cookouts while children enjoyed activities with a Halloween theme.

Fraternity and sorority floats circled the Quad in Saturday’s noontime Homecoming Parade. First place went to Lambda Chi Alpha for the creative promotion of its annual food drive, which last year brought in more than 60,000 pounds of canned goods for area charities. Alpha Chi Rho took second, and Theta Chi came in third.

An animated crowd, led by the costumed goat mascot, cheered the Engineers to a 27-24 victory over Coast Guard. At game’s end, the ball was presented to former principal lab technician Joe Gale, for his many years of service to WPI athletics.

Crew fans enjoyed a meet on Lake Quinsigamond, followed by alumni and student races, a luncheon and the dedication of the new Irving James "Jim" Donahue ’44 and Barbara Grant Donahue crew shells. Winners of the 23rd annual Frank Sannella Road Race included Rich Stockdale ’73 (Men’s Division), Sue Shorrock ’99 (Women’s Division), and Academics Initiatives Manager Ken Stafford and Joan Fitzhugh, wife of Stephen Fitzhugh ’75, (Master’s Division).

Concerts and receptions gave old friends a chance to catch up with new happenings on campus. The Glee Club hosted a gathering at the home of its director, Louis Curran, and the Class of 1952 held a mini-Reunion to gear up for its 50th Reunion.

The traditional rope pull took on a new twist as freshmen and sophomores faced off over a mud puddle created by fire hoses on the softball field. The sophomores froze at the starting gun and were dragged to a downright dirty defeat at the hands of the freshmen. The sophs seized the opportunity to show the prized Goat’s Head trophy (with freshmen in hot pursuit)--proving that school spirit is still cool at WPI.