After a week of homecoming celebrations ranging from pushcart and banner competitions to a lip sync battle, Rowan University held its 2024 Homecoming Tailgate in Parking Lot O on Nov. 2. 

The event with the theme for 2024 “Hearts of Gold,” was organized by the Office of Alumni Engagement and the Student Government Association (SGA). 

The lot hosted three tailgate zones for the football, cheerleading, and marching band as well as the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) and multicultural, student, and alumni organizations. 

The green was reserved for the Kids Zone and featured three blow-up bouncy castles for children to play on. 

Food trucks including Empanada Guy, Wholly Bowls, and Aunt Martha’s Funnel Cakes parked in the lot. 

The Chamberlain Student Center & Campus Activities team sponsored the first 500 undergraduate students who checked in to the tailgate by giving them up to $10 in food truck vouchers. 

Melissa Ulmer is the assistant director of marketing & student programs for the Chamberlain Student Center & Campus Activities. She was one of the team members who assisted in the homecoming tailgate by giving out food truck tickets to students. 

“Our hope is that no matter where you might belong, that you could still eat and enjoy the day,” said Ulmer. “The food truck tickets are supposed to help with that, but we don’t book the trucks. We just kind of give out the free money. The Alumni Office works really hard to make today happen, and we just kind of support so that students can feel connected to the day.” 

The student and alumni tailgate zones tables were grouped of various clubs and departments on campus including the Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine (SOM), College of Performing Arts, First-Generation Task Force, and more. 

Members of the board for the Rowan Alumni Office talked to current students at their booths. Some alumni who were a part of the SGA visited the SGA table to speak about their experiences and get to know current members. 

“I think it’s good for SGA to table just because they do so much on campus and it’s good to just get the name out and to kind of know who is organizing all of the events,” said the SGA’s Chief Financial Officer, Molly Fitzpatrick. 

Some tents organized raffle and online giveaways as well as table games including the Chamberlain Student Center & Campus Activities team. The Office of Social Justice & Belonging hosted five giveaways where winners received prizes including a JBL speaker and a Rowan blanket. 

Many tables gave out handout materials detailing the organizations and departments they were representing. Students also received some free goodies from the event, with SGA giving out lanyards, lip balm, and cups, as well as some other departments handing out pens, t-shirts, and bags. 

“Some of the free goodies I got included a College of Education t-shirt, a swag bag from Cooper Medical that had a car scrapper, koozie, and apple with it being a very nice tote bag,” said Connor Shields, a graduate student in the class of 2025 working on his master’s of science in teaching. “I have to say the College of Education t-shirt was probably my favorite since I don’t own any College of Education swag. Getting some merch was great.” 

Odnier Rivera, a sophomore community and environmental planning major, found the free food and live music provided at the event memorable. 

“The free goodies that stuck out to me most were in the multicultural section of the tailgate,” said Rivera. “My organization, The United Latinos Association, was in this area alongside a multitude of other multicultural booths that were giving away beverages, cultural foods, and also providing live music. I would say that those were my favorite goodies of the tailgate.”  

While Rowan Radio 89.7 WGLS-FM played music for the student and alumni tailgate zone, multicultural organizations as well as Greek life organizations played music on large portable speakers. Students came together to dance to R&B as well as stroll music in the rhythm of the moving beats. 

“My favorite part of today was getting to talk to everyone and enjoying the beautiful day,” said senior marketing major Andres Sanchez. “It’s fun going to homecoming and seeing everyone, alumni, every other org, especially on a good day.”

Greek life organizations barbecued at their tents serving free meals including Zeta Phi Beta, Inc. who had seafood salad, burgers, hot dogs, and fried fish at their table. 

Elisa Tovar, a third-year mechanical engineering student served food with the sisters of Zeta Phi Beta, Inc. 

“We did a lot of planning with people who were here previous years,” said Tovar. “Alumni are a really big help. We basically just set a time for everyone to be here to make sure we have everything set up, especially for free food at the tent. And in order to make sure we showcase our orgs.” 

As tailgate goers began to head over to the stadium to watch the Profs in the homecoming football game against the Montclair State Red Hawks, Rowan’s marching band guided them in a musical performance. Rowan community members, family, and friends gathered to watch the winning game together and show school spirit. 

“It’s really nice that our Rowan family and our personal family can kind of come together and just celebrate and be out together in the community,” said Ulmer. “And I think that’s what I love. These are the memories I definitely take with me.”  

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