Greek alumni visit for Homecoming

Jessica Parmelee

Homecoming at Kent State presents Greek alumni with a chance to go back in time.

This Saturday Kent State is celebrating homecoming with events throughout the week. Greek alumni from many chapters come back Kent State to take part in the events.

“As many people know, after graduation, alumni move all across the country,” Sigma Chi alumnus Mike Little said. “Homecoming is a good time for everyone to reunite at once and start up again where you left off when you graduated.”

Alumni want to come back to see their old chapter and catch up with old brothers they have not seen in a while, said Michael Stumpf, Phi Delta Theta alumnus. “It is a chance to meet the current brothers, share stories with them and see where the fraternity stands today.”

Returning to Greek chapters at Kent Sate is important because it gives the current members a better understanding of what being Greek can offer them, Stumpf said.

“Most of the year, fraternity men and sorority women don’t see any other people from their chapters except current members,” Stumpf said. “This is a chance for alumni to come back and show the younger generations just how connected they are to so many people.”

It is important to visit the chapter to be updated on the progress and the direction in which Sigma Chi is going, Little said.

“Even though there is an age difference, even a generation difference, you still are brothers and sisters,” Stumpf said. “You wear the same letters, have a common bond.”

Each chapter puts a lot of time into planning its Homecoming events. A majority, if not all Greek chapters, have an alumni chair or a committee that is in charge of the events, Little said.

“Alpha Xi Delta delegates one person that is in charge of alumni relations,” said Shelby Wilson, Alpha Xi Delta alumna. “She is in charge to get in contact with the alumni to invite them to the events.”

The number of people who come back depends on the size of the chapter. The number of alumni who visit Sigma Chi usually ranges from 50 to 75 people, Little said.

The events taking place depend on the chapter, Stumpf said. Some chapters really go all out to make their alumni feel welcome from an annual pig roast to an alumni flag football game, he said.

Contact Greek life reporter Jessica Parmelee at [email protected].