Rutgers–Newark Homecoming to Celebrate 80 Years of Scarlet Raider Pride 

When Rutgers University–Newark celebrates Homecoming on Oct. 24, alumni, students, families and friends will gather for a day of fun and shared memories. 

But the event also celebrates an important milestone: Rutgers-Newark’s 80th anniversary. In 1946 the University of Newark  merged with Rutgers University, furthering Rutgers’ statewide mission.  Since then, Rutgers-Newark has grown into an institution that fuels economic development, cultural vibrancy and research that solves real-world problems in the city, state and beyond. 

The annual homecoming celebration will transform campus into a colorful fall festival featuring live entertainment, campus tours, food trucks, family activities, student performances and a Scarlet Raiders soccer match.

Most of all, homecoming presents opportunities for generations of Rutgers–Newark graduates to reconnect with each other and the institution that helped shape their lives. "Everyone needs a place they can come back to," said Chancellor Tonya Smith-Jackson. "Homecoming is that pilgrimage for Scarlet Raiders. It's a chance to return to the places you loved, reconnect with classmates, walk the campus and see all the great things Rutgers–Newark is doing today.”

On October 23, Rutgers-Newark will also launch the Chancellor's STAR Fund (Student Achievement And Resilience) at a kickoff event at Ruth Bader Ginsburg Hall. The scholarship effort is intended to remove financial barriers to student success, such as struggles with housing, transportation, childcare, food insecurity, among other needs.

Activities are scheduled throughout the day on October 24, beginning with a Chancellor's Breakfast and continuing with a Family Festival, main-stage programming and athletic events.

For Talib Morgan, president of the Rutgers University Alumni Association and a RU-N alumnus, homecoming embodies the strong sense of community that’s central to Rutgers-Newark’s identity."We attended a close-knit campus where people really got to know you and, often, where you got to know yourself,’’ said Morgan.“That's true for me, and homecoming is a chance to come back, see how the campus has changed, how it still feels like home, and to appreciate the role RU-N played in who you are today.''

Last year’s homecoming celebration, the first in more than a decade, drew alumni from across decades of graduating classes. Morgan attended with siblings who also share Rutgers–Newark roots. "My sisters and I all earned our degrees at RU-N,” he said. "It was a thrill to run into people we hadn't seen in years -- in decades in some cases. It was a heartwarming experience to be on campus and see how much passion and pride our alumni have for the community."

This year's event is designed to appeal to visitors of all ages. The Family Festival will feature a Kids Zone, inflatable attractions, community organizations, sponsor booths, student organizations, photo opportunities and bookstore merchandise. 

Visitors also will be able to explore "Roots & Reflections: Student Art as Culture, Tradition, and Heritage," enjoy food-truck offerings and participate in guided campus tours.
Entertainment, which continues throughout the afternoon, will feature performances by Rutgers–Newark student groups, including Greek organizations, which will perform step and stroll routines. The Rutgers–Newark Cheer Team will take the stage and the Scarlet Raider mascot will be making the rounds. The featured performer is singer and creative entrepreneur Shane Byhaze.

The festivities will culminate at Frederick Douglass Field, where fans can cheer on the Scarlet Raiders during a home soccer match against Rowan University. Planned halftime activities include alumni and student recognition, underscoring the university's commitment to celebrating both its history and its future.

But Morgan believes the greatest attraction is the opportunity to hear the stories that connect generations of Rutgers–Newark graduates. "Those are what tether people to the community and bring them back to campus, so they're important to me,’’ he said.