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TABLE OF CONTENTS 3……LETTER FROM EDITOR-AT-LARGE 8…..Homecoming Event Calendar 12…..SpelHouse Charm School of Homecoming Etiquette 14…...Homecoming for the Introvert 16……It’S Only Coronation 17……Homecoming Survival Kit 22…..Miss Maroon & White and Court 24…..An Advantageous Affair: How Homecoming Helps You Profit 25……How to Tailgate 26……Homecoming Playlist 28……Maroon Tiger’s Life Saved By Medical Technology 30……Behind-The-Scenes of Homecoming 34……Homecoming Week Hangover 35……Campus Cleanup & Misconduct 38…….Homecoming Flashback

RE·CON·NAIS·SANCE N. MILITARY OBSERVATION OF A REGION TO LOCATE AN ENEMY OR ASCERTAIN STRATEGIC FEATURES; PRELIMINARY SURVEYING OR RESEARCH SPELHOUSE HOMECOMING IS SOMETHING INCOMPARABLE TO ANYTHING ELSE IN THE WORLD. THE BOND BETWEEN MOREHOUSE COLLEGE AND SPELMAN COLLEGE DURING THOSE FEW SHORT DAYS REACHES ITS SUMMIT AS STUDENTS, ALUMNI, AND FACULTY COME TOGETHER TO CREATE MEMORIES THAT WILL LAST A LIFETIME. THANK YOU TO OUR MISS MAROON & WHITE COURT. THANK YOU TO OUR ADVISOR, RON THOMAS. THANK YOU TO OUR PHOTOGRAPHER AHMAD BARBER. THANK YOU TO OUR AMAZING STAFF HERE AT THE MAROON TIGER. “RECONN” IS JUST THE FIRST OF MY MANY ARTISTIC ENDEAVORS THAT I PLAN TO PURSUE DURING MY TIME TO SERVE AS EDITORAT-LARGE FOR THE MAROON TIGER, AND YOU ALL HAVE PLAYED PIVOTAL ROLES IN ITS CONCEPTION. NOW, LET’S COMPLETE THE MISSION. COLLEGIATE ESPIONAGE. - MICHAEL A. MARTIN

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY: KENNETH GREENWOOD

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AUTHOR: D’SHONDA BROWN

Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the Spelhouse Charm School of Homecoming Etiquette:

That’s one way to go about celebrating Homecoming, but it definitely is NOT proper Homecoming etiquette.

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to the Spelhouse Charm School on behalf of the Maroon Tiger Staff.

While enrolled in the Charm School, you will be taken through a series of courses taught by teachers, alumna, and current students.

We all remember the ruthless, reckless twitpics and Instagram photos of students washed up on the sidewalks of Westview Drive circa Homecoming 2013.

”What is Homecoming etiquette?” you may ask.

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Simply put: Homecoming etiquette is demonstrating class and upholding the Spelhouse name in an appropriate manner.

Here are what some of our select group of deans, students, and administrative faculty members have to say about Homecoming etiquette to help you glide more easily through your Homecoming experience.•

MR. DARREN BROWN MOREHOUSE ‘83 ”I’m unsure what good Homecoming etiquette is? I don’t know if it exists. As Men of Morehouse or Morehouse Men we represent more than ourselves. We represent all those that went before us or will come after us. We must remember the school song. Keep us steadfast honest true and to Morehouse and her ideals and in all things that we do. I think etiquette is more of a concern for current students. Homecoming is the time when all Morehouse family gets together and fellowships. It’s like a pilgrimage. It’s called Homecoming because the family comes home to reconnect. It’s more about alumni than matriculating students. It’s a time of pride” MS. TAYHLOR TANNER BIOLOGY MAJOR SPELMAN ‘17 ”Everyone wants to enjoy their Homecoming experience. The key to Homecoming etiquette is not getting caught embarrassing yourself. This is important because you don’t want to be that person all over Twitter or Instagram slumped while everyone questions who your friends are and why they allowed you to get to such a point” DR. GENEVA BAXTER, PH.D DEAN OF FIRST YEAR STUDIES AT SPELMAN COLLEGE ENGLISH MAJOR SPELMAN ‘77 “Well the term ‘etiquette’ means appropriate behavior, and usually implies a set of behaviors or codes that are adhered to or that people pretty much expect and use at a particular location. In this case, Homecoming, which is when we have all of our alumna to return home and celebrate with the team, in this case which is Morehouse because we no longer have athletics [at Spelman College].

It’s a time for coming together, reunion of sorts with your friends, your peers and there’s a kind of behavior that goes with that. That’s what Homecoming etiquette is.

“I think [Homecoming etiquette] is very

important because Spelman is rich in tradition and typically Homecoming is a time when alumnus comes back; we fraternize, we socialize. In addition to being an administrator, I’m also an alumna. We just have a big party, but in having this big party, it’s like any party.

We have to be mindful of how we behave and particularly as alumnas returning or adults returning, you’re making an impression on the people around you and that’s why it’s so important. I think often people look at how we behave outside of the AUC. There is a standard that we have portrayed that we’re expected to uphold and as such, I think it’s important that we do that. Where we can have fun and yet we can have it in a manner that is considered decent and respectful.

I think [one can demonstrate Homecoming etiquette] through your behavior, the way you talk to each other, the way you socialize, and it can even be portrayed through your dress.

I think people should dress appropriately and by that, I mean for an outdoor activity or a co-ed activity. There will be dancing ‘in the streets’ sort-of speak and people should be dressed in a way that is comfortable and, also, safe. By safe, I mean, if you have on heels and you’re walking across a gravel parking lot, but there are some people who can navigate that well. So, if you’re a person that can walk in ten-inch heels across the dirt, the grass and not be affected by that, then that’s what you should wear. If you’re more comfortable in flat shoes, that’s what you should wear, but it should always be appropriate for the occasion. If it’s an outdoor gathering from 12-6 in the afternoon, I don’t know that an ‘after five’ attire is appropriate” Before embarking on Mission: Homecoming 2014, it is essential to save the following numbers in case of an emergency: 1. Grady Hospital -(404) 616-1000 2. Checker Cab Service - (404) 351-1111 3. 911 4. Morehouse Public Safety - (404) 215-2666 5. Spelman Public Safety - (404) 525-6401 6. Atlanta Police Station - (404) 658-7054 7. Atlanta Medical Center - (404) 265-4000 8. Georgia Poison Control Center - (404) 6169000

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THE DOMINANT MOREHOUSE DEFENSE

game of the season, and they should be energized by the home

The Morehouse defense is having a great season thus far. Through

crowd and click on all cylinders.

four games they’ve only allowed an average of 308 total offensive yards. Although Coach Freeman would enjoy seeing the average

THE BATTLE OF THE BANDS AT THE HALF

decrease, the Maroon Tigers have been dynamic at causing

All black institutions’ bands take a great deal of pride in showing

turnovers (11) this year.

out and being the most live. The battle of the bands at halftime can often be more important than the football game itself. The

THE JOHNSON TO MANN CONNECTION Quarterback Monqavious Johnson was without his favorite receiving target for first two games of the season, but now wide receiver Devon Mann is back and the combination is dangerous and formidable. They had 12 receptions, 281 yards and 3 touchdowns in their first two weeks back together. The duo will be key to Morehouse’s success on offense.

House of Funk band will be ready for their opponent and they are sure to ignite the crowd. They get the people going!

ENDING A HOMECOMING WINNING DROUGHT The Maroon Tigers are looking to break a streak of two consecutive losses in Homecoming games. The last time the Maroon Tigers won a Homecoming game was 2011 and they are only 1-3 in the game

A PACKED HOUSE AT B.T. HARVEY

since 2010. The Maroon Tigers have been embarrassed in front

The amount of alumni and Morehouse and Spelman supporters

of the ecstatic home fans too much in the past couple of years,

that will fill the stadium Saturday afternoon will only be beneficial

hopefully Saturday, October 18th, this Homecoming drought will

to the Maroon Tigers. This will be the Maroon Tigers’ first home

end.

DO YOU THINK MOREHOUSE WILL WIN THE HOMECOMING FOOTBALL GAME?

WILL IT BE CLOSE OR A BLOWOUT?

57% 43% *75 TOTAL PARTICIPANTS QUESTIONED

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70% 30%

WILL YOU BE HAVING TOO MUCH FUN TO REMEMBER EITHER WAY?

45% 55%

AUTHOR: JAYSON OVELBY

Everyone loves to dress up – well, the fashion editors and writers do. But at The Maroon Tiger, we love assisting those who have a few fashion complications. It’s Homecoming season, and with Homecoming there comes a string of events that can become sartorially stressing on the mind and body. However, only one event matters – Coronation.

“It’s only Coronation,” is what people will say to throw you off and make you lose focus. However, it’s only Coronation and it’s one of the only events that should really matter. This means that it’s your moment to show the unbridled swag beasts what your wardrobe really consists of and how much heat you’re packing. Their moment was those first two weeks of school when it was still summer; yet they were trying to wear clothes meant for fall weather.

Usually, the men are donned in suits and women in dresses of all sorts. Although as students entering new environments, you’ll have to be mindful of the space you’re occupying while donned in various sorts of style.

Fellas, it’s a new year and hopefully you all have seen at least one recent issue of Gentleman’s Quarterly. Somehow the magazine is still able to serve as the representation of menswear, while making men wear suits that aren’t designed to fit a man’s build. However, GQ may be one of the only tools of weaponry during this Coronation season to proceed with caution.

In particular, the real enemies – and idols – are the guys that have been waiting since last Coronation to load up and shoot the sartorial soldiers out on the battlefield we call #coronationbestdressed. You see, these guys have been plotting and waiting for the moment to finally bombard the competition. They’ve been going shopping all season and making sure that their tool shed is stocked for the war.

Unknowingly, the pieces that were copped last summer will not be enough for this year’s ball.

Of course, in the real word, the typical hyper masculine male doesn’t care this much about what he wears. However, you’re not the ordinary guy. You’re never the ordinary guy. In preparation for this year’s ball, think differently. Be bold. It’s always good to try different things. This event is the only event everyone will remember.

In particular, this is the only event where you should bombard your Instagram timeline with photos of you and your friends dressed in the finest pieces this season. Let the odds be ever in your favor. Happy Coronation.

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AUTHOR: RALPH JEAN

Whether it’s James Bond or Jason Bourne, no self-respecting agent starts a mission without proper preparation and the right tools. The same is true if you hope to make mission Homecoming 2014 a success. For that you need the Homecoming Survival Kit. The first step to having the most dope Homecoming yet actually doesn’t have anything to do with turning up. If you want to have a free mind while you take in hot looks at the fashion show or if you don’t want to have to worry about lab reports Saturday morning at the tailgate then you have to remember why you came to school in the first place. No matter who headlines, the Hip Hop concert is always better if you don’t have to worry about work. James Bond never took a mission without doing his homework first and neither should you.

“All of your homework that is due the week after homework finish it before Sunday of Homecoming because if you don’t it will not get done. It doesn’t matter how studious you are how much you say you’re going to do it you won’t,” Barbara Bennett Senior at Spelman College said.It’s also important to have the right tools. At first all bond had was a pager, but you have a smartphone.

It’s decades better, plus it can take pictures. You can use it to capture all the golden moments throughout the week, but make sure it’s fully charged before you hit West End Ave for tailgating. You’ll see a lot of things at Homecoming but you won’t find an outlet. Even if you do, you shouldn’t be waiting around for your phone to charge while everyone else is having a good time at the Glee Club tent. Don’t get caught dead. Charge your phone before you hit the strip.

If you want to have a mission accomplished by the end of Homecoming week you have to be able to keep your head. It’s easy to lose track of yourself, but it’s important to keep your head. When the party is over, the party is over.

Sometimes you have to know when to call it quits. Perhaps the most beautiful part of Homecoming week is that it lasts for days. There will always be another party or event, and ten after parties to follow.

“Know your limits, you don’t want to be the picture circulating on instagram the day after Homecoming, and you will be all over instagram,” Bennett said.

While its possible to have a great Homecoming without breaking the bank, having a fun budget is a good idea.

“Separate your party money from your life money because you will spend all your of money for Homecoming and be broke for the next few weeks,” Kenya McQueen Junior Psychology major at Spelman College said.

It’s a long way to Thanksgiving even after Homecoming so do budget yourself for the week and don’t be a broke boy until Christmas.

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY: AHMAD BARBER

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Each year, our campus queens serve Morehouse students by offering a variety of different service initiatives and programs that bring awareness to an array of issues. That tradition continues with Ms. Brittany “Reeci” Botts, Ms. Fallon Clark, and Ms. Alicia “Corey” Edwards as our 2014-2015 Miss Maroon and White Court.It’s your coronation. This is your time.

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AUTHOR: MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER SCOTT

As a school that prides itself on intellect, virtue, and reflecting the various greats that once graced its mystifying campus, Morehouse College continues to remain as a beacon of altruistic embodiment.

Fall is Morehouse’s annual scholastic season of giving. No. Not because of Thanksgiving, but Homecoming. Alumni can be sure to have their paychecks prepared, as they are bombarded with detailed proposals of how they can help financially benefit the school. Some students observe the autumnal fanfare as simply a celebration of traditionally welcoming back alumni; however, other students find underlying characteristics behind the displays of a genial greeting.

It’s no secret. Alumni are going to donate funds to support a phenomenal institution, but the question boils down to this: At the conclusion of Homecoming, does the school profit financially?

With the expenses of events like the parade, tailgating, concerts, comedy shows, and a football game, Morehouse is not shy to imply that entertainment is a means to persuade the masses, but will it be enough persuasion to financially profit from the weeklong affair?

I sat with Henry Goodgame Jr., Director of Alumni Relations/ Special Events and Annual Giving Programs. In our interview, he answered questions related to the impact of alumni giving, he says, “Alumni donations are not put towards the homecoming experience, more so for other things. These things consist of sponsorships for sport teams, student scholarships and ultimately ensuring the school’s protection from any financial burden.”

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“This is why you should come back and give. You’re updating, networking, and finding out more about what’s going on with the college. You’re seeing progress take place, so you’re seeing your dollars at work. You then conclude, this is why I should continue to invest at Morehouse. This is why we should always support our Alma Mater.”

Dean Kevin Booker, Associate Dean of Student Life, had this to say, “In the long run, there is no financial gain for students, other than a wonderful homecoming experience.

We spend more money than we have in our budget.

We use money mainly from the CASA and Student Life budgets, spending roughly $85,000-90,000. That’s not a lot of money, as most schools spend $150,000 or more. For example, Howard University spends $200,000.”

In response as to how the school receives such funds, he says, “Homecoming is majorly carried out with the support of sponsors. Those being Zipcar, Sheen Magazine, Wells Fargo, and others. The money donated goes towards the parades and various events, while the food at Commencement Ceremony is sponsored by Chick-Fil-A alongside a generous Coca Cola beverage donation. We definitely couldn’t pull of the #3 Best Ranked Homecoming Experience amongst HBCUs without the support of sponsorships.”

Financially speaking we don’t profit, but in other ways, we do. We have more resources for sport teams, student organizations, scholarships, and an ultimate backup fund to protect the school from a financial crisis. Not to mention that at the end of the day, we have bragging rights as one of the best Homecoming events in the nation!

AUTHOR: RALPH JEAN & KRIS COLLEY

The tickets have been sold. Alumni from all over the world have purchased their plane tickets, and the bookstores are buzzing with folks buying their school gear. Mission Homecoming 2014 is in effect.

“Don’t be afraid to leave the group you started with,” Spelman College junior Toni Carter said. “You got friends.

You got random people. You’ll find strangers. If you don’t want to do what your friends are doing at that exact moment, go do something with somebody else.”

Homecoming is the most anticipated event of the fall semester and along with spring break it’s arguably the most anticipated week in the academic year. That’s why there’s probably nothing worse than plans falling through during Homecoming Week. Perhaps the most important thing to remember about Homecoming is it’s a marathon, not a sprint.

Maximizing the Homecoming experience means being present for the entire stretch. The difference between having the greatest Homecoming of all time and spending a week in your room with your brain melting out of your ear depends on your ability to pace and prepare yourself.

No event on the Homecoming schedule illustrates this philosophy better than Saturday’s tailgate.

Even a less than spectacular Homecoming Week can be saved by the proper tailgating technique. Tailgate Saturday is one of those rare times when getting up early isn’t just acceptable, it’s the savvy thing to do.

“You have to pace yourself, don’t go to hard too fast,” said Wynton Borders, a senior Sociology major at Morehouse.

“It’s about taking care of your body. And explore – don’t limit yourself to just one part of the campus. Get up early on Saturday and get everything in. Don’t stop until they kick you off campus pretty much.”

Tailgating brings folks together. Everyone is in a good mood. Alums from all over come back to Mother Morehouse for Homecoming Week. It’s a great time to get to know them and expand your network.

Raynard Ware, a Morehouse senior Business Administration major, offered his perspective on how to make mission tailgate a success.

“Since it’s the last tailgate it’s the last Homecoming, just experience everything,” Ware said. “Go to all the festivities, get the Homecoming package and just do everything. It’s the last go around. ”How to tailgate: A checklist for accomplishing the mission of a successful Homecoming Saturday •

Got to have the food. Try the fried fish or chicken wings

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Try to get a free plate from an alumni or Greek tent

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You must walk down Westend Ave. There are plenty of tents, people, and fun

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See what’s going on behind the pearly gates of Spelman College. Don’t forget it’s also Spelman’s Homecoming and their campus is full of alumnae and current students participating in the Homecoming festivities

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Increase your Morehouse network. Talk to and meet a Morehouse alum. The obstacles that you are facing as a student here have already been met and surpassed by these brothers

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Explore, venture out, and try to do as much as possible

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Got to remember that tailgate is a marathon and not a race – so pace yourself

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Ultimately, Homecoming, like most things in life, depends on whom you spend your day with. Good friends = Great experience

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AUTHOR:JEBAR KING

In honor of Homecoming Week, MT has composed a list of the songs you are guaranteed to hear at every event from Hump Wednesday to Market Friday to the grand finale, tailgate. These are the hottest songs in Atlanta right now: don’t be surprised if you hear them through the halls of every freshman dorm, at every Homecoming pregame, and even at coronation.

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LOYAL CHRIS BROWN

TUESDAY MIKONNEN Ft. DRAKE

ANACONDA NICKI MINAJ

HANDSOME AND WEALTHY MIGOS

NO FLEX ZONE RAE SREMMURD

NEW ATLANTA MIGOS FT. YOUNG THUG, RICH HOMIE QUAN & JERMAINE DUPRI

FREAK NO MORE MIGOS

FLAWLESS REMIX BEYONCE’ FT. NICKI MINAH

WE DEM BOYZ WIZ KHALIFA

ABOUT THE MONEY TI FT. YOUNG MONEY

NO TYPE RAE SREMMURD

CUT HER OFF K CAMP

DON’T TELL ‘EM JEREMIH

SHE TWERKIN CA$H OUT

NEW FLAME CHRIS BROWN FT. USHER AND RICK ROSS

F.U. YO GOTTI FT. MEEK MILL

TOO THRAXXX

U GUESSED IT OGMACO

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AUTHOR: MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER SCOTT

In a matter of minutes, what could have been a fatal tragedy turned into an incredible story in favor of Morehouse starting center Trovanté Thompson.

On March 4, 1990, Loyola Marymount’s Hank Gathers, the projected first overall pick in the 1990 NBA draft, collapsed on the court and died of a heart condition during a conference tournament game. A similar event could have ended Thompson’s life during Morehouse’s Atlanta University Center rival football game against Clark Atlanta University on Oct. 4 at Panther Stadium. Instead, there’s a good chance that he will play in Saturday’s Homecoming game against Albany State.

In a phone interview with Thompson while he was a patient in Piedmont Hospital, he said that he was suffering from a heart condition called Supraventricular Tachycardia. This heart condition causes its victim’s heart rate to rise substantially, and during the game his heart rate rose to between 250300 beats per minute. According to the Mayo Clinic website “Healthy Lifestyle Fitness,” a normal resting heart rate is 60-100 beats per minute, and anything above 100 is considered tachycardia. The symptoms of this condition include shortness of breath, blurry vision, light-headedness, and weakness of muscles.

“I have been dealing with this condition since I was a senior in high school, and it seems to get worse and worse,” Thompson said.

Doctors initially diagnosed his condition as activityinduced asthma. At first using an albuterol inhaler

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relieved his symptoms, but eventually it was ineffective.

“Because my asthma pump wasn’t working, so they (doctors) started to think it was a heart condition,” Trovanté said. Then he and his mother, Verlee Thompson, got a second opinion on his condition.

Dr. David Spivey was recommended to them. To fully diagnose Trovanté condition, Spivey gave him a heart monitor that he should wear for 30 days.

The monitor contains a lanyard connected to a small portable device with four wires stemming from it. The four wires are capped with suction cups that are all placed on Trovanté body. Lastly, for the device to function, the monitor must be within 10 feet of a cell phone at all times; therefore, to allow him to play, Morehouse’s trainers connected a cell phone to his shoulder pads.

Before the incident, Trovanté had been wearing the monitor for 16 days and the Clark game was the third in which he wore it. After experiencing several symptoms in the second quarter, he pressed the button on his monitor that alerted his doctors to check his heart rate.

After getting a high reading from Trovanté monitor, the doctors called his mother at the stadium. They notified her of his high heart rate and told her that he needed to report to the emergency room immediately. Verlee Thompson proceeded to leave the stands and walked over to the sideline where

Trovanté was.

“When I got to Trovanté and he came off the field, I told him that the doctor’s on the line, your heart rate is extremely fast, it’s in a potential fatal rate, and I need to get you to the emergency room now,” Verlee Thompson said. “The doctor asked to speak to Trovanté, and he gets on the phone and asks him if he was short of breath, if he was having any chest pain, and if he felt light-headed.

“Trovanté responded, ‘Yes, sir.’ The doctor said, well, you can no longer play, and you need to get to the emergency room now. Trovanté responded to the doctor, ‘I’ll go by the emergency room after this football game. I got to finish this game,’ and he ran back out on the field.”

The doctors threatened to send Atlanta police to get Trovanté due to the severity of his heart condition. The coaches called him off the field and he complied by walking with his mother and Morehouse athletic director Andre Pattillo to the ambulance.“ A reading came from the hospital and his heart had a high beat,” Pattillo said during the game.

“So they called his mother because she’s the emergency contact. So we had to pull him (from the game) and the ambulance took him to Piedmont Hospital.”

The procedure was very successful, and Dr. Spivey projected that Trovanté can return to the field against Albany State in Morehouse’s Homecoming game on Oct. 18. Many of Trovanté’s family members are looking to drive to Atlanta to watch him play in the Homecoming game.

Unlike Hank Gather, thanks to advanced medical technology and Trovanté’s mother, he is getting a second chance.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY: MOREHOUSE ATLETICS DEEPARTMENT

The 6-foot-3, 280-pound senior was admitted to Piedmont and on Oct. 7 he underwent a surgical procedure called ablation, Trovanté said. The Mayo Clinic website describes ablation as a procedure that “uses long flexible tubes (catheters) inserted through a vein in your groin and threaded to your heart to correct structural problems” that can cause heart rhythm irregularities.

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AUTHOR:JERREL FLOYD

Homecoming is a time for students to network with the alumni while balancing their studies and the lure of the week’s festivities. In all this excitement it’s easy for students and alumni to overlook the time and dedication required to plan and execute Homecoming Week. Though homecoming week is a longstanding tradition, there are still many people that don’t know exactly what happens behind the scenes during the week.

For students, Homecoming eventually becomes nothing more than a week of fond memories.

For the members of CASA, PULSE, and the Office of Student Life, the end of Homecoming marks the start of preplanning for next year’s Homecoming.

“The planning process of Homecoming begins as soon as it’s over, all the way up to the week before,” Associate Dean of student life Kevin Booker said.

Consisting of preparing detailed playbooks, event descriptions and logistics, planning a Homecoming can’t be done in a day or even a month.

“It’s tiring and very gruesome,” Homecoming Director Thomas Cox said. “But at the end of the day we can say we impacted somebody’s Homecoming experience.”

Gruesome is only one way to describe the amount of work and detail that goes into planning a successful Homecoming. There’s no making a simple phone call or sending a brief email to complete the planning process.

“It’s very hectic,” Cox said. “The only event we get to really enjoy is tailgating.”

Consisting of a Hip Hop Concert, Neo-Soul Concert, pep rally, coronation, coronation ball, football game & halftime show, Hump Wednesday, parade, worship services, and receptions, each event requires a significant detail and planning. Preparation for a single program includes: • Figuring out the exact number of barricades, tables, and chairs that might be needed for each section of the program.

• Establishing a call time and timeline for

participants and vendors of a specific program.

• Choosing and contacting specific vendors for a program if necessary.

• Establish a proper sound and lighting system and time sheet that coincides with the activity of the program.

• Participate in a group debriefing secession to discover possible mistakes and ways to improve the specific program in the future.

• This is only a small part of the process. Before reaching this stage organizers have already decided on the theme, learning outcomes, and performers.

One of the difficulties for organizers is trying to make Homecoming successful with a small budget.

“We are working with a $60,000-$90,000 budget and people have a million dollar taste,” Senior Co-Chair Jonathan Thibeaux said.

Ranked as one of the top Homecomings amongst HBCUs, the Spelhouse Homecoming organizers manage to pull together an entertaining experience.

“The biggest difficulty is trying to weigh what the student body wants with what we are capable of providing,” Homecoming Hump Wednesday Director Kevin Harvey said.

In order to accommodate for the possible budgetary issues, Homecoming organizers look to sponsors to cover certain costs. Even with these variables, the Spelhouse Homecoming rivals that of HBCUs with a larger budget.

Despite all the hard work, some still find reasons to criticize Homecoming week, but the criticism is opportunity to improve the Homecoming experience.

It’s thanks to countless hours of preparation and dedication that organizers have confidence in the quality of their product.

“Come ready to have a damn good time at every single event,” Thibeaux said. “Just have fun and celebrate.”

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AUTHOR: RALPH JEAN

The worst part about Homecoming Week is that all good things must come to an end. All the excitement and energy that fills the atmosphere throughout the week slowly evaporates somewhere between Saturday night and Sunday morning. Monday morning it’s back to business as usual. All the tents are packed up and classes resume. Homecoming Week becomes nothing more than haze of shmoney dancing and solo cups.

If Homecoming is the best week of the academic school year, then the week after is arguably the worst. It can be especially difficult for students to shift gears and get back to work.

Homecoming Week hangover is a real thing and if not dealt with appropriately, it can linger all the way to finals. Like many other ailments, the best solution is prevention.

“It depends on the person and how prepared they were prior to Homecoming to engage in those activities,” Karlye Phillips, a senior Psychology major at Spelman College, said. “If you were somewhat of a slacker before then, it’s

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like 10-fold afterward.”

There’s no doubt that Homecoming is one of the best times of the school year, but the fact is Homecoming week is only one week out of the 18 that make up the semester. All the work done prior to Homecoming isn’t worth jeopardizing for a one week of fun.

“It’s a hard transition – you have to stay focused,” Morehouse senior Biology major Guy Williams said. “ As the semester progresses the work load increases in all your classes. Make sure you text all the numbers you got at tailgate and do all the work you might have missed during the week.”

Homecoming will come, but inevitably it will pass and when it does there’s still a half semester of work to get done afterward. The key is to remember why we’re all here in the first place.

Handling business academically means you’re in a better situation going into Homecoming and your grades don’t suffer as much even if you drop the ball once or twice during the week.

AUTHOR: JAMES PARKER

After the Morehouse and Spelman alumni all leave campus, the hours of tedious clean-up begins. According to the Morehouse account manager for GCA Services – the college’s cleaning service provider – Jay Patterson, cleaning in preparation for Homecoming events starts a week prior.

Patterson estimates that approximately 600 trash bags which hold 44 gallons of garbage are used during Homecoming. He said that the week requires an additional 100 to 200 man hours of the GCA team at Morehouse.

“There is definitely a lot of trash left out during Homecoming, but they [GCA staff members] are pretty quick with getting everything up,” said Junior Onteria Harris. “I don’t understand the logic behind just dropping your trash on the ground, but I hope the clean-up crew gets a bonus for that week.”

GCA is responsible for ensuring the sanitation and organization of the stadium and all oncampus buildings except the cafeteria. The physical plant headed by John Zachary works in cooperation with the Morehouse Bonner’s Office of Community Service Scholars to clean the streets following Homecoming.

Another increasing issue has been student misconduct especially concerning the parking

garage. Parking Manager Kevin Terrell said during the average week the parking gate is broken at least once and the gate is lifted manually – and illegally – at least three or four times.

These figures are expected to spike during Homecoming.

Terrell said Morehouse and Spelman students also manipulate the parking machines and even call campus police to lift the parking gate after they have made the machine unusable.

Even though daily rates for parking in the parking deck have not increased since 2003, the fees for breaking the rules have gone up. The penalty for tailgating behind paying customers is $50 and the charge for lifting the gate is $75. The fee for breaking the gate is $150.

He also said students and sometimes staff members attempt to talk their way out of paying parking fees. Many say that they do not have the $3 for parking until they are directed to turn around and they mysteriously remember having extra money.Harris encourages students to be mindful of the college’s support staff while enjoying this Homecoming.

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