IU Homecoming not a new event to Dean Goldsmith

Pete Goldsmith had his first IU Homecoming more than 40 years ago, but the new dean of students said the pageantry of the Fall’s biggest week is still “special.”

“When I think about homecoming, I get reflective about teachers I had, or some of the concerts that I saw or the events I experienced when I was here (as a student),” Goldsmith said. “When you come back for homecoming, it sort of all comes back to you.”

Goldsmith, who started his student affairs career at IU as a resident assistant in Teter Quad in the 1960s, will experience his first homecoming in years this week.

He said it’s not just a time for students and IU fans to celebrate, but also a time for alumni to come back to Bloomington and relive a part of their college years.

“People love this place,” he said. “I was in New York last week visiting with some parents, and the parents are excited about IU. You walk around campus, and you don’t see too many other T-shirts or sweatshirts with anything but Indiana on them. I think that speaks to the spirit people feel about IU.”

And for some people, Goldsmith said, coming back to IU can be a reminder of just what people are missing.

“I think people realize, especially when they travel other places, what a special place Bloomington is and what a neat campus this is,” he said. “There’s a lot of pride, and I think it shows.”

Goldsmith, who said the football game is the part of homecoming he’s looking forward to most, said he thinks IU has a good chance of beating the Fighting Illini in Saturday’s contest.

“I think we should have beaten Michigan, but of course there’s that famous call we’re all kind of annoyed about,” he said. “(It) was a little tough with Ohio State, but I think the team is playing well.”

And it’s not just the resurgent Hoosiers that have Goldsmith talking – it’s also a new atmosphere around games, bolstered by a student section that was 11,000 strong for the game against Ohio State.

“I think Athletics Director Fred Glass has really brought a new spirit to the occasion of the football game and drawing people into the athletic family,” he said.