Name: Emily Lane
Year: 2013
Hometown: San Antonio, TX
Major: Theater
What made you want to lead this year’s Homecoming Committee?
Well I’ve been involved with the Homecoming Committee since freshman year, so every year I’ve been involved I’ve just loved it more and more. We made such strides in the past few years that I just couldn’t imagine not being involved again. I felt that I had a good handle on what needed to be done for homecoming week. Last year, I was the Special Events co-chair, and a lot of what goes on during homecoming is events.
What are some of your favorite Homecoming traditions? What’s your favorite Homecoming memory at Northwestern?
I always love the parade, but I love the pre-parade. Sophomore year I was with royalty while they were boarding their floats, and Stephanie March walked by and I got a picture with her, and I was like “Oh my god…” I always love parades, but we’ve had different events every year. Last year speed dating was hilarious and the Color Roar this week was wonderful and I don’t know…I basically like it all because I wouldn’t allow anything to happen that I didn’t like.
What was homecoming like at your high school? Were you involved?
It was kind of different. I am from Texas…so we had a spirit week and every day there was a different dress-up theme. And as a theatre major, I have always loved dressing up, so I dressed up every day for that. And the homecoming game was always big and fun and blue and gold because those were our colors, and we had these huge mums that usually our parents would buy us.
In your opinion, what is the most exciting event planned for Homecoming?
People ask me this all the time and I literally have no idea…it just depends on who you are. We’ve tried to diversify the activities so that all sorts of people can find something they’re interested in during the week. As someone who loves food, I definitely love the Chipotle BOGO and Clarke’s late night, and the food trucks will be wonderful.
What else are you involved in on campus?
I’m on the creative team for Waa-Mu, which is the largest student written musical in the country, and I used to be on the executive board of my sorority but now I’m a recruitment counselor. I’m also on the cast of the Dolphin Show…we start practice in two weeks! But right now it’s homecoming. I have to make sure that I have time for what I have to do.
Where do you see yourself after graduation?
That’s so hard! I’m definitely auditioning after college, and I hope to pursue a theater career…it’s really exciting! I’m interested in all kinds of theater. I love straight theater, theater for young audiences, I love Shakespeare, musical theater too…not really a straight focus.
Do you plan on coming back to future Northwestern homecomings, whether as part of the Alumni Association or on your own?
Definitely. One of the great things about Homecoming is that we’re technically under the Alumni Association so I’ve had the wonderful opportunity of working with alumni and working with students a lot and just bridging that gap. So I can’t imagine myself not being an active alumnus or never coming back for a homecoming…like I couldn’t do it, it just won’t happen.