2 Responses to “Erie YouTube of the Week: Edinboro University Homecoming”

1. mike says:

   August 28, 2008 at 10:27 pm

   Its too bad EUP’s new president has such a distaste for the borough of Edinboro.

   Over the years, The borough has hosted the Homecoming Parade, and has been a great way to catch up with family and friends alike.

   Obviously, closing off the two main roads, which comprise of one state highway (SR99) and one federal highway (6N), with local volunteer fire police from Edinboro and surrounding communities incurs a cost.

   Over decades of doing this, the University has helped the Borough offset this cost by either paying them directly or offering services over the course of the year.

   When the new University president ( who doesn’t even have a residence in the Borough, or even the state- he lives in New York) was approached by the Borough to offset this years costs, not only was the Borough flatly denied, but the University president absolutely refused to even negotiate offering services, like previous presidents.

   The spin from the University is they want alumni to see the new buildings being built all over campus, so they are having the parade within the campus grounds.

   Judging from the size of the crowds from parades over the last 25 years, there is no way the grounds of the University will be able to hold all the cars, people, and beercans that could possibly show up.

   As a EUP alumni and lifelong resident of Edinboro, I’m disgusted that the tradition of the Homecoming Parade has been shredded by someone who has no sense of what this is all about and makes no effort to bring together the community and the college.

   And by the way – the amount the Borough had asked for to help offset the costs (not pay the whole thing, mind you) was a mere $3,000.

   To put it into perspective, the EUP Alumni Association puts on an Alumni Brunch on the lawn of Reeder Hall every homecoming – to the tune of $30,000. And Reeder Hall doesn’t even face the campus loop.
2. Ya'acov says:

   September 2, 2008 at 9:57 am

   There seems to be an awful lot of vitriol coming from folks who think getting wasted and tossing beer cans at parade floats is a “tradition.”

   There is also much misinformation coming from these types. The president of Edinboro University, for example, is required by contract to live on, or adjoining, campus. The current president resides on Meadville Street — in the borough!

   Also, it was a borouogh official, by e-mail, who first recommended to President Brown(and gave reasons)that the parade route be changed and moved to the campus loop. Although this move had been discussed for years, President Brown and the 2008 Homecoming Committee, based on the official’s suggestion, took a realistic look at the change and saw the value of bringing alums and the townspeople onto campus for the celebration.

   President Brown and the Committee have also invited Edinboro businesses to literally set up shop on campus before, during and after the parade, further strengthening the town/gown bond. President Brown, prior to the parade route decision, in fact did meet with businesspeople and continues to do so. (And, it was President Brown who offered to put local business fliers in welcome packets distributed to 1,700 new and transfer students in August — so please spare us the misinformation about the University’s relationship with the business community!)

   Years ago, there was no internal campus loop. No Mallory Lake. No incredible campus developments to show off. But now there’s all of that, and more. In fact, the annual brunch with the President — during which all alums and townfolk are invited — will now also be held on the beautiful greenspace near Mallory Lake before the parade. All that will be missing are those who insist that “tradition” is watching the parade from their favorite watering hole and having fun by often verbally or physically abusing parade participants. Sorry, Josh, but the parade was moved to campus — with the entire community invited — for all the right reasons!

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