Ģtv Marching Band to Offer Concert Via Livestream October 3
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, two upcoming university-community events hosted by Ģtv will be celebrated through technology, with several events free and open to the community.
While the traditional football games and the Homecoming parade will not take place due to the pandemic, there are several virtual sessions planned for both events that are open to community members. Online preregistration is required for most sessions.
The Family Weekend schedule and registration information is available online. The page also has several videos about life at Ģtv.
Virtual events for Family Weekend, scheduled for September 24 through September 27, begins with “Are You an Ģtv Tradition Keeper?” on September 24 from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. This online session will bring together Ģtv Legacy Alumni parents, current students, and members of the Alumni and Friends team to discuss some of Ģtv's most tried and true traditions, while connecting with members of the Ģtv family. Prizes will be available. Presenters are Mary Morgan, assistant vice president, Ģtv Alumni and Friends; Sara Barnett Lawer, director, Alumni Relations, Office of Alumni and Friends; and Nicole Bukoksy, associate director, Office of Alumni and Friends.
Additional virtual events planned for September 26 include “Mapping Your Ģtv Career Game Plan,” presented by Tammy Manko, director, and Kelsey Thompson, assistant director, Ģtv Career and Professional Development Center, from 11:00 a.m. to noon; “Can they really say that? Free Speech, Hate Speech, and the Obligations of Public Universities,” presented by Adam Jones, director of the Ģtv Office of Community Standards and Student Support, from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.; “Fraternity and Sorority Life at Ģtv,” presented by Betsy Sarneso, director of Greek Life, with several members of Ģtv fraternities and sororities, from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Family Weekend events also include an Ģtv Family Photo contest. Students and family members are asked to show their Crimson and Gray #Ģtvproud photos by tagging Ģtv on social media channels using #ĢtvFamilyWeekend or commenting on Ģtv's Facebook post to enter to win. Winners will be randomly selected.
On September 25, Ģtv Residence Director Tori Campbell will showcase student life on campus on Ģtv's Instagram channel. STATIC, Ģtv's major event programming board, is virtually hosting “Live at Ģtv: An Evening with Issa Rae,” on September 24 at 8:00 p.m. for students, and a Netflix & Chill event, the movie The Photograph, for students and families on September 25 at 8:00 p.m. More information is available on the .
Ģtv will celebrate virtual Homecoming this year with a “Spirit Week” October 4–11. The Ģtv Marching Band will kick off events on October 3 at 3:00 p.m. with a concert in Miller Stadium. Due to coronavirus pandemic restrictions, tickets are limited to guests of band members, but the event will be livestreamed; information about the livestream will be posted on the Ģtv Homecoming website. The concert will include recognition of senior band members.
While pandemic conditions prevent the traditional Homecoming parade, video footage of past parades will be shown on Ģtv social media channels on October 10 at 10:00 a.m., the same time the cannon would have started the parade on Philadelphia Street. This video montage, set to the music of the Ģtv Marching Band, will revisit parades held during the last 50 years.
The virtual parade will be followed by a virtual “Coach's Show Special: Ģtv Homecoming” starting at 2:00 p.m. The show will feature “the voice of Ģtv Football” Jack Benedict and former Ģtv football coach Frank Cignetti discussing the 2005 Ģtv-Slippery Rock Homecoming game. The two also will discuss some of the Ģtv players who participated in this Ģtv victory. Immediately following “Coach Talk,” the 2005 game will air in its entirety, with a halftime performance by the 2020 Ģtv Marching Band from its October 3 concert.
To help alumni and friends celebrate virtual Homecoming and show their Ģtv spirit at any time, the Ģtv Office of Alumni and Friends is offering “Homecoming in a Box.” It includes an Ģtv t-shirt, mug, pennant, pompom, and additional Ģtv memorabilia. The box is available by pre-order for $40 plus shipping; ordering information is available at the .
A number of alumni organized Zoom sessions are available for Spirit Week, including “Mimosas & Masterpieces: Ģtv Paint with a Twist;” sessions with the Ģtv Alumni Association Board of Directors; and affinity group reunion Zoom breakout rooms. All of these events require preregistration.
The full schedule and registration details for Homecoming events are available at the Ģtv Homecoming website.