Throughout time and space, we’ve had a list of classic returns. There was the “Return of the King,” in which Aragorn assumes his rightful role as King of Gondor and helps Frodo complete his quest to destroy the Ring of Sauron.

There was also the “Return of the Jedi,” in which Luke Skywalker confronts the villainous Emperor Palpatine and helps his father, Darth Vader, come back from the Dark Side of the Force and ultimately, put an end to the evil empire.

But mark your calendars because April 9 brings another sure-to-be-classic: Return of the Alma Mater.

The Alma Mater statue will make her long-anticipated return to campus where she will be returned to her platform to silently watch over the University and its students.

All of us have missed her presence on campus. The Alma Mater is an iconic piece for the University and a popular backdrop for student graduation pictures.

But she’s more than just a monument to pose with in a photo. With her arms outstretched in welcome, she serves as a representative of what it means to be part of the University. To me, her arms represent the ideas of inclusivity and invitation for all.  

The two figures behind her shaking hands represent Labor and Learning, the University’s motto. The man and woman shake hands to show that labor and learning work together to achieve success.

We learn through the classes we take here on campus and through the many experiences we have during our time here. This includes time spent with Greek houses, student organizations, co-workers or friends.

And most of all, the Alma Mater represents tradition. The University is rich in history and tradition, and she represents our connection to it.

The quote on the base of the Alma Mater shows that this University has been here a long time (“To thy happy children of the future those of the past send greetings”). There have been many students before us and there will be many students here in the future. 

We are part of something big. 

She has missed out on many things since she left. After being gone for almost two years now, obviously, many things have changed, even during this semester alone. In her absence, we have succeeded and failed to live up to her expectations.

Fortunately — but maybe unfortunately — she missed the fire-storm that occurred after Chancellor Phyllis Wise sent a mass email to students and faculty informing them that classes and University operations would still be on schedule on Jan. 27, despite inclement weather. 

I don’t have to go into details because we remember what followed.

Though it wasn’t our campus’ proudest moment, the important take away I would stress to Alma was the way Chancellor Wise responded to the student backlash after the racial slurs. I like to think she channeled her inner Alma Mater in her response to the event where she used it as an opportunity for us to learn, grow and remember that “diversity is the route to excellence.”

Another big event during Alma’s absence was the addition of gender confirmation surgery to the student health insurance plan. The addition encourages a more trans-friendly culture on campus, and this is another step toward that all-inclusive campus that the Alma Mater stands for and would be proud of.

And when she returns, I hope she will serve as a reminder to be empathetic to others and be open to new ideas.

Our beloved Alma Mater was taken away on Aug. 7, 2012, and sent to a conservator for restoration, and she will return looking lovelier than ever. 

It was a big deal when she was taken away for renovation. The class of 2013 didn’t have the Alma Mater to take a photo with. The University tried to replicate the photo experience with replica statues and using green screen photos with a virtual Alma Mater, but it just wasn’t the same.

She’s going to remind us that we are part of a proud tradition, and that to learn requires labor, and vice versa. She’s here to tell us that it’s not going to be easy where we’re going, but it’s going to be worth it.

When the King and Jedi returned, it implied that they were once there but then were gone. Aragorn turned his back on the Throne, and the Jedi were nearly exterminated by the Sith and the Empire. But they returned to bring peace to Middle-Earth and the Star Wars Galaxy.

When the Alma Mater comes back to her rightful place, maybe it won’t seem as triumphant as when Aragorn and Luke Skywalker returned. Our campus isn’t under attack by Sauron or being controlled by the Empire. She won’t offer the same kind of peace as Aragorn and Skywalker — she’ll offer another type: peace of mind.

Whether she’s physically present, the Alma Mater will always be there to remind us what we stand for as a campus. 

Thaddeus is a senior in LAS. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @Thaddingham.