With the combination of Family Weekend, parents got a chance to see what their sons and daughters have been doing for the past five weeks. Meanwhile, for the majority of students on campus, the weekend meant crowded parking lots and longer caf lines. However, students realized and respected that next to the Christmas Festival extravaganza, this was one of the most important fundraising events of the year. Not only do alumni come back for the weekend, they offer generous contributions to keep St. Olaf the school that it has become. This year, Homecoming has taken a different turn.
Homecoming is all that it used to be and more.
All of a sudden, students are lining up to take pictures with Ole the Lion and share root beer floats in the Crossroads. Students, faculty and staff are sporting their new Ole Roll t-shirts and getting excited for the big football game on Saturday. The St. Olaf community is noticing the changes on campus and trying to decide whether or not they are going to take part. Strange looks and questions about the week's events are buzzing in the residence halls. While school spirit is always a positive addition to the campus, this year it comes with a pretty hefty price tag.