Alumni this, alumni that. Students glance over the calendar of Homecoming events and, almost subconsciously, ignore any paragraph containing the word alumni.

It’s not that former students annoy current ones. They have the same right to be here that we do. But, children take their Wii to family reunions for a reason.

Youth has its advantages, and students should not waste opportunities unique to young adulthood; but, youth also can be wasted in immaturity.

For the next 72 hours, the campus will be crawling with people of all ages, including children, their parents and grandparents. Students who choose to participate in Homecoming activities will have the chance to hear some amazing stories from an entirely new group of people.

The student body is fortunate to attend a school with such a faithful, close-knit network of alumni, who are genuinley interested in the the development of the university and the students as individuals. Students need to keep this in mind and take advantage of a chance to interact with a different generation.

Yes, campus is packed, parking is horrific, and it will probably take an extra hour to be seated at any restaurant. But look at the things we tolerate because “they’re worth it” – midnight movie showings the day before a midterm, camping out for concert tickets or sitting through soggy sporting events because we love our team.

Try looking at Homecoming the same way. There’s an outdoor concert, a football game and the Homecoming Musical, which isn’t quite the same as a blockbuster film, but it’s entertaining nonetheless.

Even if none of those events were offered, though, Homecoming would still be a valuable time for our school.

No university is perfect, and there will always be something to be dissatisfied with; but you might be surprised to hear someone thirty years your senior complain about the same things you do. Maybe someone from the class of ’68 can sympathize with your frustrations about meal plans or Chapel or renting a house. Then again, maybe after a few years in the “real world,” those things make more sense – or at least, they don’t seem so important.

And who knows? That woman sitting behind you could be the human resources director at your future workplace.

So, if you find yourself in line at The Campus Store behind a guy wearing a T-shirt from the 1975 Galaxy Grub, strike up a conversation. See where it takes you.