As the Dartmouth community awaits its annual bonfire, the freshman sweep and Homecoming's enthusiastic alumni participation, students at several peer institutions continue with their regular routines.
Although they may be steeped in tradition, many schools have few rituals that help them celebrate their respective homecomings, and with the exception of Dartmouth, the most lavish homecoming activities take place outside of the Ivy League.
In fact, Princeton does not host a homecoming celebration. Neither do Harvard or Yale, though the two rival schools do play an annual football game that, according to the Yale Daily, is "attended by the majority of students."
Cornell holds a homecoming celebration, but a reporter for the Cornell Daily Sun admitted, "It's not such a big thing" at his school. He said the football game is the main focus of the weekend, and there are no other significant traditions that surround it.
Students at the University of Pennsylvania place more importance on the celebration, enjoying an outside barbecue and carnival before their homecoming game.
Columbia students also observe a unique homecoming tradition, participating in the annual "Ludy Bowl," an intra-school football tournament which pits seniors and freshmen against juniors and sophomores.
Outside of the Ivy League, students show a bit more spirit. Stanford is hosting its second annual student-alumni swing dance this year to celebrate its homecoming, although their traditional 30-foot bonfire was recently prohibited due to environmental concerns.
"The lakebed where we usually have the bonfire is home to an endangered species of salamander," explained Jennifer Stewart, a reporter for the Stanford Daily.
Before the University outlawed the bonfire, the fire at Stanford used to consume stuffed teddy bears, representing the mascot of Berkely, which is Stanford's rival.
Bucknell students also faced disappointment this year when their homecoming parade was cancelled.
In contrast, Georgetown hopes to place more importance on its homecoming this year by including sports other than football, such as soccer and field hockey, in the festivities.
Baylor is also planning a large celebration. The Pigskin Revue, a student musical variety show, is a tradition that, along with the parade, pep rally, bonfire and crowning of the homecoming queen, is an integral part of the homecoming there.
