Homecoming packed with events for Hopkins alumni and students

It's that time of year again -- the last three weeks of school when the Homewood campus actually becomes a modestly entertaining place to be, it's sunny and beautiful outside, and most students have more work than they can shake a stick at.

In this yearly struggle between work and play, there's a time-honored tradition that will draw some people out of the MSE this weekend: Homecoming at Homewood.

Reunion 2003, as it's called, promises to be full of interesting events, including discussion panels, speeches, scientific demonstrations, free food and a Men's Lacrosse game. The weekend will be especially enjoyable for seniors, who can look forward to a free barbeque before the lacrosse game -- in the U.S. Lacrosse tent located on the far side of Homewood field -- complete with hot dogs, hamburgers and beer (for those who are 21, of course) as well as many other special events.

"They'll all be alums in a few weeks ... [so] we wanted to start doing stuff to get seniors psyched about being alumni," said Karen Moul, Class of '90 and assistant director of the Homewood Alumni Relations Office.

Seniors can also expect to see the crowning of Homecoming King and Queen at halftime during the lacrosse game, as well as a dance on Saturday night from 9:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. The added benefit: It's open-bar for those 21 and over, and it's free for members of the senior class.

Sunday night will feature the senior class dinner, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., which will include a "giant buffet" and a ring ceremony.

The Alumni Relations Office expects 600 to 700 seniors to attend the dinner, said Moul.

There are, however, plenty of events open to all other students and Hopkins alumni. There will be a discussion on American foreign policy hosted by the associate dean of academic affairs, Dr. Steven David. As a part of the office's program called Alumni College, panel discussions give the alumni a chance to engage in the current topics of academics at Hopkins. This Alumni weekend, there will be about 10 different events that are academically oriented, in addition to a lecture by Ross Jones, who was formerly the executive assistant to five University presidents.

"That's a big deal," said Moul about David's upcoming discussion, "we already have about 100 [registered] people coming to that," said Moul. David will probably discuss, the Middle East, Korea as well as general topics in American Foreign policy. David's discussion will be on Friday May 1, in Arellano Theater, 9 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.

For all the science nerds out there -- the many science nerds that make up this school-- Dr. Mario Livio of the Space Telescope Science Institute will be giving a lecture entitled "The Golden Ratio," on the Greek letter pi and its mathematical significance. Apparently Livio will separate fact from fiction in the hot debate over this number's meaning. A dry subject, you arts and sciences students may say?

Apparently it's a must see. "We have a 17 year-old kid that just applied to Hopkins who's driving down from Richmond to hear him speak," said Moul.

Anyone down for some constellation mapping? On Friday, the Bloomberg Observatory will be open for stargazing from 8:30 p.m. to midnight.

Also in the fascinating science realm, Marc Clayton of the Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) will be blowing things up in his demonstration, "Marc's Groovy Science." Clayton, who is a mechanical engineer in the Avery Advanced Technology Lab, operates the giant wind tunnel at APL.

While this particular event is more geared towards kids, Moul said Clayton's presentation is "really cool ... I saw it once ... he's just awesome."

Overall, Moul said the weekend should draw a few thousand Hopkins alumni from around the country. However, Homecoming at Homewood is not merely catered of those who've made it out of here successfully -- it's going to offer much needed entertainment and distraction for the entire Homewood community.

For a complete listing of times and locations of events, check out https://alumni.jhu.edu/reunion_2003/general_registration.html.