October 17, 2005
Dear Colleagues,
This past week of Homecoming activities did not just happen. Last fall we started a weekly Event Planning meeting that plans and evaluates every major activity on campus. We began to plan this year's Homecoming Week under the direction of Vice President for External Affairs, Dr. Don Skelton, immediately following the activities of last year. Special thanks goes out to Don and the two sponsors of the week's events, the Division of Student Affairs and the Alumni Association.
Amy Weems and her staff in Student Life and Leadership planned and executed a marvelous week of activities. Students, faculty, and staff enjoyed the absurdity of the Miss(ter) Troy pageant and Fear Factor ULM style, and the beauty of a new Homecoming tradition with the Spirit Boards. Martha Upshaw and the Student Government Association are to be congratulated for the beautiful Homecoming Court, and the return of a number of our former Homecoming Queens.
Keith Brown, Executive Director of the Alumni Association and Community Affairs hosted a packed house for the Alumni Awards Brunch Saturday morning. At the brunch, Tim Holcomb received the Golden Arrow Award for service to the Alumni Association and the university, and Gail Parker received the Staff Service Award. This recognition was well deserved by both of these fine individuals and alumni.
A new tradition was started with the Reunion Block Party Friday night for Alumni and students alike. The brainchild of Athletic Director Bobby Staub, the Block Party was held adjacent to the Coliseum immediately following the Basketball Madness and Pep Rally. It was an overwhelming success with the festivities going well into the night with our alumni outlasting our students. A special thanks to the co-chairs of the event, Molly Pealer and Amy Weems, and the capable assistance of the Campus Activities Board, the Student Government Association, and the Alumni Association.
I received an untold number of compliments on how beautiful the campus looked. Many alumni had not visited the campus in a number of years and they were not only amazed at the new buildings but the cleanliness and well-kept look of our grounds. Our entire Physical Plant staff earned a well deserved thanks. If you were in the Grove on Saturday, you noticed that several physical plant employees were policing the trash cans and the grounds during the festivitiessomething new for this season.
Evidently, not only were we planning the events of the week but our coaches and players were doing a great job of planning the game. The victory on Saturday was a fitting addition to a special and successful week. We are proud of the players, coaches, and staff of our Sunbelt Conference leading football program.
Finally, thanks to Keith White and our School of Visual and Performing Arts for serenading us in the Grove at the end of the day with the Biedenharn Follies. It was a fitting conclusion to a successful week.
The events of last week were well planned and well executed by everyone involved, a standard by which future events will be measured. If you missed any of them, do not despair because we are already evaluating this past week and planning for next year.
James E. Cofer, Sr.
ULM President