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Homecoming pays tribute to past, future
October 05, 2007
Prepare for an onslaught of alumni – both young and old – to take over campus this weekend as festivities for Homecoming 2007 get under way.
While the weekend events officially begin Thursday, Oct. 11 at 8 p.m. with the Residence Hall Association’s annual Songfest in Olson Gymnasium, festivities targeting current students begin Monday, Oct. 8 and run throughout the week.
“We’re trying to integrate student activities and alumni activities,” said Jacob Himmelman, assistant director of alumni events and outreach. “It’s not just about Songfest for the students.”
To hammer his point home, Himmelman points to the many activities planned for the days leading up to Songfest. These include Homecoming Chapel Monday at 10:30 a.m. in Lagerquist Concert Hall; a Powder Puff football game Tuesday at 4 p.m. on Foss Field; and a PowerBuff Volleyball game Wednesday at 8 p.m. in Olson.
This year’s theme, “Proud Past, Bright Future,” touches on both the old and the new around campus, Himmelman said.
“We felt like there was lots of good, new things being done around campus,” he said, citing the remodeled University Center and opening of the Garfield Book Company at PLU. “But of course, we don’t want to forget all the great things we’ve already done.”
The UC will be rededicated on Sunday, Oct. 14 at 12:15 p.m., 37 years after its original dedication on Nov. 8, 1970. The event includes a ceremony and tours of The Commons, offices and new meeting spaces.
The Homecoming theme also touches on this year’s affinity reunion for ASPLU. Affinity reunions take place each Homecoming to bring back former members of different PLU clubs, sports or other groups. This year’s affinity reunion celebrates former student leaders involved with the student government.
A new event this year is Friday’s Lute Fest, which Himmelman hopes will engage current students, faculty and staff. From 2 to 5 p.m. on Oct. 12, the UC will be brimming with activities, lectures, treats and performances by student groups.
“My hope is students come into the UC and are smack-dab surround by the activity and then invited to participate in Homecoming,” Himmelman said.
Friday’s events include professional ballroom dancing lesson with Rob Sutherland, owner of Abbey Ballroom in Tacoma; dance performances by the Hawaiian Club; a lecture by professor emeritus Paul Ingram titled “On Being Religious in a Religiously Plural World”; and a behind-the-scenes guided tour of the renovated kitchen with information about Dining Services’ sustainable practices.
“We really want Homecoming to be an event that has something for everyone,” Himmelman explained.
Once again this year, Homecoming events expand beyond campus into Tacoma. Saturday’s Homecoming Gala will take place at the Tacoma Art Museum and the student Homecoming Dance at Union Station.
“The Homecoming Gala and student dance are right next door to each other. We did that intentionally,” Himmelman said. “We’re all there, celebrating Homecoming together.”
At the gala, museum galleries will be open and PLU alumnus Dick Weathermon ’50 will demonstrate his oil painting in the Open Art Studio. A dinner buffet will be provided and feature live jazz music by alumnus Cliff Colon ’01 and his trio. It costs $40 to attend, or $25 for PLU GOLD (graduates of the last decade) members.
The Homecoming dance begins at 9 p.m. Tickets cost $20 and are available at the Concierge Desk.
To view the entire schedule or register for Homecoming events, click here. For more information, contact the alumni office at ext. 7415.
University Communications staff writer Megan Haley compiled this report. Comments, questions, ideas? Please contact her at ext. 8691 or at haleymk@plu.edu
“We’re trying to integrate student activities and alumni activities,” said Jacob Himmelman, assistant director of alumni events and outreach. “It’s not just about Songfest for the students.”
To hammer his point home, Himmelman points to the many activities planned for the days leading up to Songfest. These include Homecoming Chapel Monday at 10:30 a.m. in Lagerquist Concert Hall; a Powder Puff football game Tuesday at 4 p.m. on Foss Field; and a PowerBuff Volleyball game Wednesday at 8 p.m. in Olson.
This year’s theme, “Proud Past, Bright Future,” touches on both the old and the new around campus, Himmelman said.
“We felt like there was lots of good, new things being done around campus,” he said, citing the remodeled University Center and opening of the Garfield Book Company at PLU. “But of course, we don’t want to forget all the great things we’ve already done.”
The UC will be rededicated on Sunday, Oct. 14 at 12:15 p.m., 37 years after its original dedication on Nov. 8, 1970. The event includes a ceremony and tours of The Commons, offices and new meeting spaces.
The Homecoming theme also touches on this year’s affinity reunion for ASPLU. Affinity reunions take place each Homecoming to bring back former members of different PLU clubs, sports or other groups. This year’s affinity reunion celebrates former student leaders involved with the student government.
A new event this year is Friday’s Lute Fest, which Himmelman hopes will engage current students, faculty and staff. From 2 to 5 p.m. on Oct. 12, the UC will be brimming with activities, lectures, treats and performances by student groups.
“My hope is students come into the UC and are smack-dab surround by the activity and then invited to participate in Homecoming,” Himmelman said.
Friday’s events include professional ballroom dancing lesson with Rob Sutherland, owner of Abbey Ballroom in Tacoma; dance performances by the Hawaiian Club; a lecture by professor emeritus Paul Ingram titled “On Being Religious in a Religiously Plural World”; and a behind-the-scenes guided tour of the renovated kitchen with information about Dining Services’ sustainable practices.
“We really want Homecoming to be an event that has something for everyone,” Himmelman explained.
Once again this year, Homecoming events expand beyond campus into Tacoma. Saturday’s Homecoming Gala will take place at the Tacoma Art Museum and the student Homecoming Dance at Union Station.
“The Homecoming Gala and student dance are right next door to each other. We did that intentionally,” Himmelman said. “We’re all there, celebrating Homecoming together.”
At the gala, museum galleries will be open and PLU alumnus Dick Weathermon ’50 will demonstrate his oil painting in the Open Art Studio. A dinner buffet will be provided and feature live jazz music by alumnus Cliff Colon ’01 and his trio. It costs $40 to attend, or $25 for PLU GOLD (graduates of the last decade) members.
The Homecoming dance begins at 9 p.m. Tickets cost $20 and are available at the Concierge Desk.
To view the entire schedule or register for Homecoming events, click here. For more information, contact the alumni office at ext. 7415.
University Communications staff writer Megan Haley compiled this report. Comments, questions, ideas? Please contact her at ext. 8691 or at haleymk@plu.edu