Every year at Homecoming, EMU welcomes students, alumni, faculty, and staff to gather and participate in a selection of events meant to celebrate the school’s history and continued journey. This year’s Homecoming will look different from years past, as it will incorporate the inauguration of EMU’s new president, Rev. Dr. Shannon W. Dycus. After a year of serving as EMU’s interim president, Dycus was voted to permanently fill the role by the EMU Board of Trustees. Amy Springer Hartsell, Executive Advisor to the President, announced the appointment via email in June, describing it as a “historic appointment.” Hartsell is also a member of the inauguration visioning and planning team. She says the timing of the inauguration during homecoming was important to Dycus for “a couple of reasons.”
Hartsell said, “She wanted to take advantage of being the tenth president, being inaugurated in the tenth month, on the tenth day, and at 10 a.m.” Hartsell also pointed out that EMU will be moving into its 110th year. Other than the symbolic aspect, Hartsell said, “Another great reason is that this is a special, and historic occasion, and to share it with our alumni and guests just makes it even more beautiful.” The planning team wanted to take advantage of people already being on campus for homecoming.
The investiture ceremony for Dycus is scheduled for this coming Saturday the tenth from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Also scheduled for Saturday is a Student Quad Party where students will have the opportunity to meet Dycus in a less formal setting.
The inclusion of the inauguration and associated events did come at a cost, however. Shea Jones-Mitchell, Advancement Coordinator at EMU, is usually responsible for all the Homecoming planning. Jones-Mitchell said, “After homecoming was over last year I started planning for homecoming this year, and I really wanted to bring back the color run.” She said the news of the inauguration being incorporated into homecoming “completely changed all of the planning.” Other events Jones-Mitchell highlighted that had to be cut along with the color run are the donor banquet that usually happens on Friday evening and the bonfire traditionally hosted by CAC. Both the banquet and bonfire have been replaced by inauguration related events, the latter being replaced by the Student Quad Party.
Despite the changes, Jones-Mitchell wants students to feel included in the festivities, saying, “I do still want students to know that, although those things have changed, it’s still a student friendly event.” To clear up some confusion around the Royal City Celebration she said, “You don’t have to purchase tickets for the Royal City Celebration itself.” She made it clear that the tickets advertised on the inauguration website are only for seating for the Steel Wheels concert taking place during the event. The event, which was formerly known as Fall Fest, will include an inflatable obstacle course, inflatable basketball game, food trucks, and other outdoor activities. Jones-Mitchell mentioned Boba Cowboy, a new food truck to Harrisonburg, that she was excited for. She said, “They serve homemade fresh boba and they make mochi.” She added that other than the Royal City Celebration, events like the A Capella Collective, and the Student Quad Party are free for students.
Jones-Mitchell also wants students to know she is invested in including students in the homecoming planning process. After homecoming she usually sends a poll to students asking for feedback. She said, “My focus this year is, after homecoming I would like students to speak more into what they would want out of homecoming, especially for the freshman students who don’t quite know what homecoming is.”
