UM-Flint Homecoming 'rewinds' 70 years of Wolverine history

Whether it's been decades, years or months since they last set foot on campus, Wolverines of all generations are invited home this fall to celebrate 70 years of the University of Michigan-Flint and the community that has helped shape it.

UM-Flint's Homecoming, themed "Wolverine Rewind," will run Oct. 15-17. The event will look back on the university's history, celebrate the people on campus today, and build toward what comes next.

University administrators post a homecoming sign (1958).

Looking back: 70 years of stories

For Christina Blitchock, director of campaign initiatives and alumni engagement, homecoming is the natural starting point for a yearlong celebration of UM-Flint's history. A central piece is gathering the memories that official records can't capture.

"As we celebrate 70 years, we really want to hear more of our alumni stories — what their time here meant to them as students, but also the impact they have had since leaving UM-Flint," Blitchock said. "Those stories help us better understand not only where we have been, but the difference our graduates have made in Flint, across Michigan, and beyond."

At the Blue Carpet Affair, Oct. 16 at the Flint Institute of Arts, alumni can bring photographs, memorabilia and other materials to a scanning station, supported through partnerships with the Inclusive History Project and the Genesee Historical Collections Archive. The goal is to build a more student-centered picture of UM-Flint's past. Campus tours designed for alumni who haven't visited in years will also show how the university has evolved.

This year will also feature a Greek Life alumni mixer, planned for 6 p.m., Oct. 15 at Churchill's Food & Spirits, a favorite student hangout for decades. Alumni of fraternity and sorority life will have a chance to reconnect, network and reminisce over food and drinks.

Blitchock said the university's Flint identity is what makes the alumni experience distinctive.

"There is certainly a part of being an alum that is connected to the University of Michigan, but being part of Flint is what sets us apart and makes us unique," she said. "This university and this community have always been connected, and homecoming is a chance to celebrate that relationship."

Celebrating now: dance, street party and watch party

As alumni mingle at the FIA, current students will be having fun and getting down at the Wolverine Rewind Homecoming Dance, 6-9 p.m., in the Northbank Center Ballroom. Hosted by Student Government, the night includes dancing, a photo booth, light bites and refreshments. Students can dress up in their best homecoming look or rewind with a '70s, '80s or '90s-inspired outfit. Registration is free through Campus Connections.

Student Government President Samantha Jarbour, a senior biology major with a pre-med concentration from Clio, said the dance is meant to be a night for students to dress up, let loose, and enjoy time with friends. "The theme ties into this year's 'Wolverine Rewind' and gives us an opportunity to take a blast into the past while celebrating the present and recognizing the future we are building together," she said. Her chief of staff, Sarah Jarbou, has led much of the planning, from decorations to event details. "There are so many details that go into homecoming that students may never see, but seeing everything come together and watching students make memories with their friends makes all of that work worthwhile."

On Oct. 17, the celebration moves downtown. The Homecoming Game Day Street Party runs from 10 a.m. to noon on East Second Street in front of the Flint Institute of Music's Capitol Theatre, with inflatables, games, food, giveaways and music. UM-Flint students and alumni can register at the event for a free T-shirt and food vouchers, while supplies last.

From noon to 5 p.m., the party shifts inside the Capitol Theatre for the Homecoming Game Day Watch Party, where the U-M football game will be played on the big screen with interactive activities, prizes and raffles. Alumni, staff, faculty and current students are encouraged to wear their spirit gear and cheer on the Wolverines together.

Both events are family-friendly, free and open to the public. Pre-registration is not required but is suggested, and donations are welcome to support KidsTix.

Lucas Langdon, assistant dean of students for student engagement, said the events reflect how closely UM-Flint is tied to the city.

"Bringing students, alumni and community members together creates an opportunity to celebrate not only the university, but also our relationship with the city we call home," Langdon said.

Coming back, he added, is about more than returning to campus. It's returning to a community that has embraced, built and connected Wolverines for 70 years. "Our 70th anniversary gives students an opportunity to see that they are part of a community that extends well beyond their own time on campus."

Langdon stressed that the events are for everyone, including students who are new, commute or have never attended a campus event.

"Homecoming is for every UM-Flint student," Langdon said. "You do not have to already know a lot of people, belong to an organization or have attended campus events before."

Whether students stay for an entire event or stop by briefly, he said, showing up is what matters.

"Sometimes simply showing up is the first step toward finding your place here," Langdon said.

For students, Samantha Jarbou said, the 70th anniversary reminds them they are part of a story still being written.

"As current students, we are now part of that history," she said. "Every organization we build, every tradition we continue, every student we advocate for, and every memory we create becomes part of the story that future Wolverines will inherit. We are not only celebrating the 70 years that came before us; we are helping write the next chapter."