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By Jennifer M. Fitzenberger
Arizona Daily Wildcat
November 18, 1996
Crowds of University of Arizona alumni dressed in red and blue flocked to campus Saturday to share the spirit of Homecoming with the Wildcats of today.From all areas of the country, loyal Wildcat fans returned to their alma mater to see the parade, cheer on the football team, and most importantly, reminisce with past schoolmates about their college years.
Diane Fiduccia, 1966 UA graduate and Kappa Kappa Gamma alumna, said although today's Homecoming has grown, the level of school spirit have remained the same.
"There used to be smaller events and fewer organized activities. We never had tents on the Mall and there was absolutely no drinking," she said.
Fiduccia said there have been many changes since she was a student.
"All the girls wore dresses and heels to all the football games and parties. We never wore jeans," she said.
She said residence hall and sorority members were never given outdoor keys and had strict curfews - midnight on school days and 2 a.m. on the weekends.
"There was always someone waiting at the door for us to make sure we made curfew. If we were late, we would be penalized the next weekend, and would have to come home earlier," she said.
Fiduccia's husband, Frank, also a 1966 UA graduate and Sigma Alpha Epsilon alumnus, said drinking was prohibited in the Greek houses. He said his fraternity used to put barrels of alcohol on the house's roof and run a hose from the barrels through the party decorations to avoid being cited for alcohol consumption.
Frank Fiduccia also said the campus is larger now and feels that students and parents can use today's advanced technology to communicate.
"I am able to stay in touch with my kids today through electronic mail," he said. "The only time we use the postal system now is when they want me to send them money."
Billy Joe Varney, 12-year Homecoming parade master of ceremonies and retired associate vice president for planning and budgeting, said although it may be hard to accept, change is for the better.
"This university has continued to become better. Its reputation and education standards have since been rising on a gradual basis," he said.
Varney also noticed students now tend to frequent private parties, and shy away from bigger gatherings.
"Up until the mid-70s, thousands of kids used to go to a dance in the Student Union after the Homecoming football game," he said. "Now I think they like to have a better sense of family by going to smaller parties."
Some aspects of Homecoming, however, have not changed.
Diane and Frank Fiduccia said Homecoming is still a time for students to display school spirit and impress alumni.
"Our alumni like it when we represent our house during Homecoming," said Tyler Chester, media arts sophomore and Sigma Alpha Epsilon Homecoming chairman.
"Homecoming is not just a party. Lots of alumni stay in the house and visit our tent on the Mall," he said.
Back in 1966, Diane Fiduccia noticed the same ambition to impress alumni when she was a resident of Yuma Residence Hall.
"(During Homecoming), everyone had to have their rooms spotless to impress the alumni. It was like you were in the army," she said. "Everyone attended to the alumnus because they sponsored us and gave us money."
Most alumni agreed that Homecoming is more social and diverse now. "There are so many more diverse organizations that are on campus than before," Varney said.
He said that is why Homecoming continues to grow and why the UA's enthusiasm continues to be great.
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