It’s been nearly 40 years since Judi Rice (BPE, ’75) last played varsity sports. But in the immortal words of this former Dalhousie field-hockey and basketball athlete: Once a Tiger, always a Tiger.
 “You find that with most pilipiliÂţ» varsity alumni,” she says. “We love to support our teams, and our university. It’s a common bond we share.”
Rice is looking forward to renewing that bond with her fellow Tigers at the inaugural Black & Gold Homecoming Social on Friday, October 4 at the Grad House. Open to everyone, Rice describes it as a unique opportunity for teammates and classmates to reconnect while demonstrating their enthusiasm for varsity athletics.
“It’s going to be a fun evening and people are really excited about it,” says Rice. “I’ve been receiving confirmations from alumni as far away as Ottawa, so we’re expecting a great turnout.”
The social is being hosted by the Dalhousie Black & Gold Club, the university’s quintessential Tigers fan club. It’s an impressive team in and of itself, including many lifelong Tigers fans and a stellar array of past and present all-star student-athletes. And like any great team, Black & Gold members are united by a common goal: helping varsity athletes pursue academic and athletic excellence.Â
Since the club launched more than 30 years ago, it has provided financial assistance to the varsity tutorial program, the highly coveted third year “D” awards, and 14 university varsity teams.
 “There’s a strong desire among all members to give back to the university any way we can, and this is a great way to support our student athletes, whether you live in Halifax or out of town,” observes Rice, the current president of the club. “We do that through financial donations, attendance at events, or both.”
Giving back, celebrating heritage
The Black & Gold Club holds two receptions each year: a meet-and-greet for first-year athletes in September and a reception for graduating athletes at the end of their studies. But Homecoming offers a unique opportunity to bring club members, athletes and Tigers fans together to celebrate Dalhousie’s rich heritage in university sports.
“There’s something about athletics that truly deepens the university experience,” says Michael Perry, director of alumni engagement. “Whether you play or watch, it creates a strong sense of pride and community. This social embraces that spirit, offering an opportunity to get together with alumni who share a passion for varsity competition.”
Activities are still being planned for the event, but Rice promises that club executives will be on hand to chat, and there will be information on the upcoming varsity season so that everyone is up to date on their beloved Tigers.
“We’re hoping that it turns into one of the most popular Homecoming events and brings out lots of Dalhousie alumni,” adds Rice. “If so, we look forward to hosting it each year with some exciting new twists and turns.”
The inaugural Black & Gold Homecoming Social will be held Friday, October 4 at the pilipiliÂţ» Grad House at 1253 LeMarchant Street from 4:30 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Space is somewhat limited for the event, so . For more information about the event, or Black & Gold Club membership, please contact Judi Rice at ricejude@hotmail.com.