Homecoming week has lots to offer for everyone
Oct. 2, 2001
KALAMAZOO -- Sunday, Oct. 7, through Sunday, Oct. 14, will be packed with concerts, competitions and camaraderie as Western Michigan University celebrates its 2001 Homecoming.
Visit the WMU Homecoming Web site
Billed as "Wild Wild Western," this year's festivities promise to start a stampede of alumni and community members to campus for a fun-filled week of excitement and entertainment. Among the many activities open to the public are two rock concerts, 5K and 1K runs/walks, the student- oriented Friday Festival, and a variety of artistic performances and athletic contests, including the Homecoming football game at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 13.
Many WMU alumni will gear up for Saturday's gridiron contest with Bowling Green State University by attending the second Homecoming PepFest from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the tent village at Hyames Field. All those planning to attend are encouraged to register in advance.
Returning alumni will have a chance to reconnect with their alma mater at free PepFest tailgate parties sponsored by the colleges of Arts and Sciences, Aviation, Engineering and Applied Sciences, and Health and Human Services, as well as the alumni societies of the College of Education and Haworth College of Business. Alumni and their families and guests also may purchase a ticket for a breakfast provided by the WMU Alumni Association.
Other Bronco fans will fire up for the game by gathering in the corporate area of the Hyames Field tent village. Businesses or organizations that want to sponsor a tailgate party in the village's corporate area should call Irene Bracken in the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics at (616) 387-3062. Tents, as well as tickets for the game, are still available.
Other athletic events taking place during Homecoming week are hockey contests on Oct 7, 12 and 13; men's soccer games on Oct. 7 and 9; and women's soccer games on Oct. 10 and 12.
Meanwhile, fine arts buffs will be treated to several shows, including the University Theatre production of "A Chorus Line" at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7, and 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, Oct. 11-13, in Shaw Theatre; a free performance by Gold Company, WMU's internationally acclaimed vocal jazz ensemble, at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7, in the Bernhard Center's Bronco Mall; and a concert by Mandy Patinkin at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 11, in Miller Auditorium.
When Friday Festival rolls around on Oct. 12, the action on campus will be almost nonstop.
During the festival, students participate in a variety of wild and wacky events, starting with the soap box derby from noon to 2 p.m. in front of the Siebert Administration Building. Two other festival events open to public viewing, the Fritter Fest at 2 p.m. and Western Olympics at 3:30 p.m., will take place by Goldsworth Valley Pond.
Also on Friday, the previously announced winners of this year's Distinguished Alumni Awards will be recognized for their professional accomplishments by the WMU Alumni Association during a dinner 6:30 p.m. in the West Ballroom of the Bernhard Center.
This year's award recipients are Dr. James E. Bultman, president of Hope College in Holland, Mich.; Duane R. Dunham, chairman, president and chief executive officer of the Bethlehem Steel Corp., headquartered in Bethlehem, Pa.; and Howard A. Norman, a noted writer and associate professor of English at the University of Maryland at College Park, Md.
Friday's events will end with an explosion of music at 8 p.m. in Miller Auditorium when WMU's Campus Activities Board and Miller Auditorium present the first day of RockFest. The Friday concert will feature Sister Hazel and Blessid Union of Souls. The opening act will be the winner of WMU's battle of the bands, which takes place Oct. 8.
Day two of RockFest picks up at 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 13, in University Arena and is being sponsored by the Office of University Relations and WKFR 103.3 FM. It will feature actor/comedian David Spade and two nationally known groups, 3 Doors Down and the Verve Pipe.
Homecoming Saturday will begin with another huge event, the third Homecoming Campus Classic. The classic's 1K kid's fun run and 1K fun walk will start at 8:30 a.m., while the 5K run and 5K fun walk will start at 9:15 a.m.
Runners and walkers will take off from the Bernhard Center and follow courses that showcase the WMU campus. Refreshments will be available for participants, volunteers and spectators during the event, which will culminate with an awards ceremony and a free brunch for participants and volunteers.
This year's major Homecoming activities will conclude Sunday, Oct. 14, with the Homecoming Choral Showcase at 2 and 4 p.m. in the Dalton Center Recital Hall. The free concert is being sponsored by the School of Music and will feature the University Chorale, Women's Chorus and Collegiate Singers.
For more information about WMU's 2001 Homecoming or to confirm event times, visit the Homecoming Web site at <www.wmich.edu/homecoming>. In addition, alumni may contact the WMU Alumni Association at (616) 387-8777 or <alumni@wmich.edu>.
Partial Schedule
2001 Homecoming Week Activities
Sunday, Oct. 7
University Theatre production of "A Chorus Line," Shaw Theatre, 2 p.m.; for tickets, call the Gilmore Theatre Complex Ticket Office at (616) 387-6222.
University Symphony Orchestra, free, Miller Auditorium, 3 p.m.
Gold Company, free, Bronco Mall Center Stage, Bernhard Center, 6:30 p.m.
Men's soccer vs. Wright State, free, WMU Soccer Complex, 1 p.m.
Hockey vs. Toronto (exhibition), Lawson Ice Arena, 3 p.m.; for tickets, call (616) 387-8092 or (888) 496-8849 or visit <www.wmubroncos.com>.
Monday, Oct. 8
(through Oct. 22) Historical display, WMU Archives and Regional History Collections exhibit, third floor, Waldo Library, regular library hours.
Residence hall lobby decorating, all halls, 8 a.m.
King and queen voting, Promenade Tent and Goldsworth Valley Gazebo, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Battle of the Bands, free, Goldsworth Valley Pond, 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 9
King and queen voting, Promenade Tent and Goldsworth Valley Gazebo, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
25th Annual Western String Festival, free, Miller Auditorium, 7 p.m.; featuring the High School Festival Orchestra, Honors Orchestra and University Symphony Orchestra.
Men's soccer vs. Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne, free, WMU Soccer Complex, 4 p.m.
Lav Luv, Bernie's After Hours comedy club, East Ballroom, Bernhard Center, 9 p.m.; $2 general public, $1 attendees with valid WMU ID.
Wednesday, Oct. 10
Women's soccer vs. Central Michigan, free, WMU Soccer Complex, 3 p.m.
Miller Movie featuring "The Fast and the Furious," Miller Auditorium, 7 and 10 p.m.; $2 general public, $1 attendees with valid WMU ID.
Thursday, Oct. 11
Chalk It Up for Charity, Miller Plaza, 1:30 p.m.; student chalk drawing contest, prize money goes to local charities designated by the winners.
Concert, Mandy Patinkin, Miller Auditorium, 7:30 p.m.; for tickets, call (616) 387-2300 or visit <www.millerauditorium.com>.
University Theatre production of "A Chorus Line," Shaw Theatre, 8 p.m.; for tickets, call the Gilmore Theatre Complex Ticket Office at (616) 387-6222.
Cantus (men's vocal ensemble), Dalton Center Recital Hall, 8 p.m.; for tickets, call the Dalton Center Ticket Office at (616) 387-5820.
Friday, Oct. 12
Women's soccer vs. Northern Illinois, free, WMU Soccer Complex, 1 p.m.
Soap Box Derby, in front of Bernhard Center, noon.
Fritter Fest, Goldsworth Valley Pond; 2 p.m.
Western Olympics, Goldsworth Valley Pond, 3:30 p.m.
Onyx Society panel discussion, MLK Room, Bernhard Center, 3 to 6 p.m.; alumni to share tips about how to be successful at WMU and after graduation, geared toward current students but everyone welcome.
College of Education Alumni Society Golden Apple Awards reception/dinner, Fetzer Center; 5:30 p.m.; for information and tickets, call the Alumni Association at (616) 387-8777.
Distinguished Alumni Awards Dinner, 6:30 p.m., West Ballroom, Bernhard Center, for information and tickets, call the Alumni Association at (616) 387-8777.
Hockey vs. Alaska-Fairbanks, Lawson Ice Arena, 7 p.m.; for tickets, call (616) 387-8092 or (888) 496-8849 or visit <www.wmubroncos.com>.
RockFest 2001 concert (Day 1), Miller Auditorium, 8 p.m.; featuring Sister Hazel and Blessid Union of Souls; prices range from $25 to $35, for tickets, call (616) 387-2300 or visit <www.millerauditorium.com>.
University Theatre production of "A Chorus Line," Shaw Theatre, 8 p.m.; for tickets, call the Gilmore Theatre Complex Ticket Office at (616) 387-6222.
Saturday, Oct. 13
Homecoming Campus Classic, in front of Bernhard Center, 1K Kid's Fun Run and 1K Fun Walk, 8:30 a.m., 5K Run and 5K Fun Walk, 9:15 a.m.; late registration, second floor Bernhard Center ballroom, 7-9 a.m.; to register or volunteer, call (616) 387-8402 or visit <www.wmich.edu/race>.
Homecoming PepFest, Hyames Field, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; to avoid waiting in line on Saturday, all alumni planning to attend are encouraged to register in advance; to register to obtain a free entry pass or to purchase a meal ticket, contact the Alumni Association by calling (616) 387-8777, logging on to <www.wmich.educ/homecoming>, or e-mailing <alumni@wmich.edu>.
Parade of Nations, Waldo Stadium, 12:45 p.m.
Registered Student Organization Flag Run, Waldo Stadium, 12:50 p.m.
Football game vs. Bowling Green State University, Waldo Stadium, 1 p.m.; for tickets, call (616) 387-8092 or (888) 496-8849 or visit <www.wmubroncos.com>.
Homecoming king and queen coronation, Waldo Stadium, halftime of the football game.
Marchdown, National Pan-Hellenic Council step show, free, Miller Auditorium, 6 p.m.
Hockey Game vs. Alaska-Fairbanks, Lawson Ice Arena, 7 p.m.; for tickets, call (616) 387-8092 or (888) 496-8849 or visit <www.wmubroncos.com>.
RockFest 2001 Concert (Day 2), University Arena, 8 p.m.; featuring David Spade, 3 Doors Down, and the Verve Pipe; prices range from $40 to $50, for tickets, call (616) 387-2300 or visit <www.millerauditorium.com>.
University Theatre production of "A Chorus Line," Shaw Theatre, 8 p.m.; for tickets, call the Gilmore Theatre Complex Ticket Office at (616) 387-6222.
Onyx Society annual dance, East Ballroom, Bernhard Center, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.; for information or tickets, call Joan Harris at (616) 387-5112.
Sunday, Oct. 14
Homecoming Choral Showcase, free, 2 and 4 p.m., Dalton Center Recital Hall; School of Music presentation featuring audience participation and the University Chorale, Women's Chorus and Collegiate Singers.
College of Fine Arts outdoor sculpture tours, tours leave from the Dalton Center lobby, 12:10, 12:20 and 12:30 p.m.; guided walking tours of the outdoor sculptures presently on campus.
Media contact: Jeanne Baron, 616 387-8400, jeanne.baron@wmich.edu