Homecoming to be held virtually.

Bob Jones University is preparing to bring students and alumni together during Bruins Spirit Week and virtual “Homestaying.”

Coinciding with Bruins Spirit Week Oct. 5 through Oct. 10, Homecoming will take place as a virtual event, termed “Homestaying,” that alumni will be able to participate in and enjoy from the comfort of their homes. Chelsea Fraser, the director of alumni relations for BJU, and her team have been planning this virtual homecoming since June. Fraser said the event is important to have despite the changes and challenges COVID has thrown into the semester because alumni relations are very important to both the university and the student body. Students may be students for only four or six years, but they will be alumni for the rest of their lives.

“So, you’re future alums and we’re wanting to serve you now, as well as into the future.” Fraser said. “We don’t get a pass on investing in our alumni. We don’t get a pass on investing in our students. That relationship matters too much.”

Many of the events students will be enjoying on campus will be available to alumni tuning in from home. BJU will be streaming the Bruins soccer and volleyball games online as well as a concert, with watch parties to go along with those streams. Saturday, BJU will be hosting Zoom meetings all day for alumni to connect with other alumni from their year.

To top it all off, BJU will be producing “The World’s Most Unusual Game Show,” a game show mash up of Jeopardy, Family Feud, A Minute to Win it and more, with both alumni and students has contestants. Fraser and her team have been working with alumni to put the show together, including alumni in the planning every step of the way. Fraser has enjoyed working with alumni and hopes that Bruins Spirit Week and Homestaying will help encourage a strong alumni-student relationship.

“An engaged alumni community helps show students what [comes] next,” Fraser said. “We’re really excited to be able to put something together we hope serves both groups.”

On the student side, the SLC council has been hard at work planning on campus events for students to enjoy throughout the week. Judah Smith, the men’s student body president, and his team have been working with Fraser and her team to put together Homestaying. Smith and his team have been focusing specifically on student activities and have come up with a full week of fun and exciting events.

On Monday and Tuesday night there will be a movie showing with snacks for sale, Wednesday will have a prayer and worship rally with ice cream for sale afterwards, and Friday will be a Bruins Spirit day during which students can wear casual dress and Bruins or Homecoming gear. The Homecoming t-shirts will feature a design from the student who won BJU’s t-shirt design competition. Friday will also have a student-led chapel in the morning followed by a picnic lunch, and Bruins games in the evening followed by a pep rally. Saturday will have Bruins games throughout the day as well as other fundraising activities.

One of the events Smith is most excited about is the student-led chapel, which will be outside at Alumni Stadium and across the athletic fields to allow for social distancing. The chapel, which will focus on music, praise and worship, will be the first time the entire student body will be together for a service. It will also be the first time the student body will be able to sing together.

“I think it’s important as a student body to have these unifying moments,” Smith said. “To have a chance to really interact as a whole.”

The proceeds from snack sales, t-shirt sales and other fundraising activities will go to an organization BJU has chosen to partner with this year. A presentation of the fundraising check to the organization will be held Saturday night.