This past weekend marked the inaugural Howard vs. Harvard weekend. Dubbed “Black Ivy Homecoming,” this partnership between the universities, centered around the football game, is supposed to take place for the next four years. Both graduate and undergraduate Harvard and Howard students got together in Cambridge for a weekend of festivities, ending with the tailgate and game on Saturday afternoon.
Over 45 Howard students made the journey to Cambridge with Howard University’s Student Association. The logistics and itinerary, designed in conjunction with Harvard’s Black Student Association, paired Howard students with Harvard hosts. The festivities began when students met their hosts from Harvard’s Black Student Association and had dinner together before Apollo Night, a talent show which was also hosted by the BSA. Students from both institutions gathered at the venue for a night of music, dancing, and the arts. Highlights from the event included a performance from HUSA VP Raina Henderson and from Harvard’s Nigerian dance troupe.
In similar fashion, even more fun was had at the tailgate and game the following morning. Before the game started, Howard and Harvard students and alumni gathered at Harvard stadium for food and music during the tailgate. SHOWTIME, Howard’s marching band, performed outside of the stadium to a crowd of excited students and alumni to get them hyped for the game.
In anticipation for the historic event, Harvard Men’s Basketball Coach Tommy Amaker said the game “is another opportunity for us as educators to teach, lead, serve and make our students aware of our communities’ shared history.”
Unfortunately, Howard Bison were ultimately defeated 62-17 by Harvard Crimson. However, after a dazzling halftime show by SHOWTIME, to which even Harvard gave a standing ovation, all fans left in good spirits.