Quad City is returning to the UTM Homecoming festivities this year, bigger and better than ever.

This year, the annual Homecoming parade has been canceled in order to place a greater emphasis on the Quad City events.

The parade had been declining in popularity, but still took a great deal of time and resources from various campus organizations, said Charley Deal, director of Alumni Relations. Rather than parade floats, organizations have been encouraged to place a greater importance on Quad City events. As a result, Quad City is anticipated to have more attractions than last year, adding several improvements, Deal said.

Quad City began last year as the central alumni event, designed to give returning alumni a chance to reunite, meet, and mingle in the quad. It’s an opportunity for the “renewing of friendships and making new friendships” among alumni. As a part of Quad City, tents are set up all over the quad, representing various campus organizations, each academic college, and decades, allowing visiting alumni to sign in and connect with others in attendance.

Homecoming and Quad City this year will emphasize the 1951-1967 graduates of UTM. The theme, “Carnicus Returnicus”, focuses on the 1960s, when the “Carnicus” event was still held annually at UTM.

Carnicus is a combination of the words “carnival” and “circus”, and began at UTM in 1930. At that time, each student was required to take a physical education class. As a requirement for these classes, students had to participate in Carnicus, which included a variety of circus-style acts, such as tumbling and acrobatics.

Carnicus was a major student event until 1973, and each year students elected a king and queen of Carnicus. These past Carnicus royalty have been invited as special guests at this year’s Homecoming festivities. Over 13,000 letters of invitation were sent out from various organizations, to include guests such as former SGA presidents, residence life participants, and special guests of the College of Business. Altogether, Alumni Relations estimates that over 3,000 alumni will attend.

Although many parts of Quad City are geared more toward an older generation of alumni, there is definitely something to offer all ages.

All over the Quad, 42 tents will be set up representing different organizations, each with something different to offer. A kids’ carnival will be set up, including a petting zoo and inflatable games. Other attractions include the ROTC rock-climbing wall, an STEA professor dunking booth, and a public food tent, just to name a few.

Additionally, several musical acts will be performing throughout the day. The Beatles…Return will be performing at the Pepsi Main Stage in the Quad, emphasizing the ’60s theme. Later that evening, the Crickets, formerly of Buddy Holly and the Crickets, will be performing oldies at the Homecoming Dance in the Student Life Center’s Alumni Gym. Both concerts are free and open to the public.

“It’s a family event, with a fun atmosphere,” Deal says to describe Quad City, “That’s what UTM is about….one big family”.

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Schedule of Events

Tuesday

5 p.m. — Rope Pull, Pacer Pond 7 p.m. — SAC Lip Sync Contest, UC Patio

Wednesday

5 p.m. — Rope Pull, Pacer Pond 7 p.m. — Campus Ministries Night

Thursday

5 p.m. — Rope Pull, Pacer Pond 7 p.m. — PRSSA “Womanless Review,” Watkins Auditorium 9:09 p.m. — SAC 909 Comedy Series, Watkins Auditorium

Friday

9 a.m. — Homecoming Golf Tournament, Sharon, Tennessee 3:30 p.m. — Rope Pull Championship, Pacer Pond 6 p.m. — Alumni Dinner and Awards Program, Student Life Center, Alumni Gym 8:30 p.m. — Pyramid and Pep Rally, Elam Center

Saturday

7:30 a.m. — Letterwinners Breakfast, Student Life Center, Alumni Gym 9:30 a.m. — Chancellor’s Homecoming Brunch, Chancellor’s Residence 10:30 a.m. — Quad City Opens 11 a.m. — Skyhawk Parents Association (SPA) meeting, 206 A, B, C 1 p.m. — Football pre-game Show, Bob Carroll Football Building 1:30 p.m. — Marching band leads fans to the game. 2 p.m. — Football game vs. Tennessee Tech 5 p.m. — Organization Open House 7 p.m. — Homecoming Dance, Student Life Center, Alumni Gym 7 p.m. — NPHC Greek Step Show, Skyhawk Field House

For more information on these and other events, contact the Office of Alumni Affairs at ext. 7610, alumni@utm.edu or http://www.utmforever.com/