Logo courtesy of Lane College
Lange College, anticipating continued health and safety concerns with the COVID-19 pandemic, will shift to various virtual events and forgo some in-person events for this year’s Homecoming. The homecoming football game will continue to take place in-person Saturday, October 2 at 2 p.m. against Texas College at Lane Field. The canceled in-person events include the annual Homecoming Gospel Concert, the prayer breakfast, parade and tailgate experience.
“The parade and tailgate typically attract thousands of alumni and visitors,” Alumni Affairs Director Braylin Laster said. “It is our desire to be prudent with decisions about the health and safety of our alumni, friends, community and our campus home.”
After a great deal of discussion, the change to a hybrid celebration comes in response to the continual rise in COVID cases and deaths in the state of Tennessee, as well as the recent joint resolution by the Madison OCunty COVID Task Force encouraging individuals to avoid crowds in order to assist in diminishing the ongoing spread of COVID in our community. As of September 2, 2021, Tennessee ranked number 1 in the nation for new COVID cases per capita, pushing hospitals to the brink. Given the circumstances, hosting a massive in-person event will present a public health risk to students and the community at large.
“The leadership of the College understands the excitement a Lane College homecoming brings to alumni, friends and the West Tennessee community,” said Laster. ” We are taking actions to preserve the smaller on-campus events that alumni enjoy that can be managed with campus protocols. We are working diligently to make sure that the safety of our students and alumni are a priority.”
Specific events and activities related to the modified approach are being finalized and will be communicated in the coming days.