Simon Elfrink
Staff Writer
While COVID-19 has taken its toll on the traditional college experience, Murray State plans to maintain the Homecoming tradition by inviting alumni all over the world to take part in socially-distanced activities.
The Murray State Office of Alumni Relations teamed up with the Student Activities Board to make an unforgettable Homecoming experience, even in the midst of a pandemic. Murray State will be hosting an abundance of Homecoming activities, both virtual and in-person.
Murray State acknowledged the statewide Healthy at Home initiative by incorporating the precautionary slogan into the Homecoming scene: “Healthy at Home(coming).” This year’s theme is “We are Racers,” and while Homecoming 2020 might not feel the same as in years past, Murray State Director of Alumni Relations Carrie McGinnis is determined to make the most of the unprecedented situation.
“Homecoming 2020 provides us with the unique opportunity to engage with alumni all over the world,” McGinnis said. “We are not limited by location and travel. As the saying goes, home is where the heart is. We all have a heart for Murray State, even when we are separated by a global pandemic.”
McGinnis said how the unconventional circumstances have made the Homecoming process more difficult for her and her staff.
“This year obviously feels very different,” McGinnis said. “It is new territory for all of us. It feels different for the community, for the students and for all of us on the faculty and staff as well.”
Despite the hardships a pandemic Homecoming poses for McGinnis and her team, she was pleased with the combined efforts from everyone involved to make this year’s Homecoming as good as it can be.
“I could not be more proud of this team,” McGinnis said. “The Office of Alumni Relations is a pretty small team. There are only three of us so we have really worked hard to provide a well-rounded list of events that would be of interest to students and alumni. I am really proud of the team as far as what we’ve been able to accomplish.”
The celebrations, which will span the week of Oct. 26-31, will be packed full of in-person, virtual and hybrid events. While the itinerary is subject to change, the events revealed to the public are as promising as ever. The traditional 5k run has been moved to the virtual platform. A virtual wine tasting event will be hosted by Randall Black from the College of Fine Arts and Humanities on Thursday, Oct. 29, and a Greek Night is scheduled virtually on Friday, Oct. 30. The Murray States Esports team is hosting an alumni vs. students esports tournament on Oct. 30 as well. The Virtual Tent City is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 31, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., and Murray State President Bob Jackson and First Lady Karen Jackson will be providing a virtual campus tour.
Despite the abundance of virtual activities, Homecoming 2020 promises plenty of in-person events as well. The Student Government Association will be displaying a Parade of Banners on Saturday, Oct. 31, at 16th Street at 9:30 a.m. The Coronation Ceremony for the Homecoming King and Queen is scheduled at 11 a.m. that same day. The Coronation Ceremony will be streamed to viewers live at murraystate.edu/streaming.
While the week of Homecoming is crammed with events for all participants to enjoy, the economic advantages Homecoming typically brings is likely to be hindered by the pandemic. To comply with the CDC’s guidelines on social distancing, in-person events will be heavily inhibited. Murray-Calloway County Chamber of Commerce Director of Membership Development Haily Anderson shared her concerns with local businesses who depend on Homecoming week.
“From the businesses perspective, I know a lot of our business have been hurting in this time in general,” Anderson said. “So not having those alumni and families coming into town, shopping at our businesses, staying at our hotels, eating at our restaurants has a huge impact. I know they depend on Homecoming weekend to bring in a big crowd. That’s when they do a lot of their sales for the year so I know they’ll be missing that.”
To remedy the situation, Anderson recommended that virtual participants partake in shopping online to support the local economy.
Those who wish to participate in any of the Homecoming 2020 events can find more information at murraystate.edu/homecoming.
