Cal football is off to a promising start this year, and the Homecoming game against Washington State is just one of many activities to look forward to this weekend. Alumni reminisce about the glory days, parents get a glimpse of their kids’ daily lives and we as students are a bit overwhelmed with the sheer presence of so many real adults in one place.

Beyond that, Homecoming is about uniting a community through spirit and tradition, whether it be cheering on the Golden Bears in a sea of blue and gold or exchanging a “Go Bears!” with a stranger. The spirit of Homecoming thrives in our understanding that generations before us have made their mark here at UC Berkeley, and we come together to celebrate connections with the past, present and future.

Times change, and faces do, too. But delve into this issue and see what we have to say about what makes Cal a place you can return to – a place you can call home.