The weekend of Oct. 16 and 17 marks the 2015 Homecoming and Family Weekend, which includes a full schedule of events for DU students, parents and alumni. A number of other on-campus events, which began Oct. 12, are also scheduled for students to attend during the preceding week.
On Oct. 12, the homecoming events began with free duffey rolls and coffee from the alumni-owned Duffey Roll Café food truck. That evening, student organizations were invited to paint banners advertising their groups, which will be hung on Driscoll Bridge for the entire homecoming week.
Tuesday was Pioneer Pride Day, which encouraged DU students, staff and faculty to wear their DU clothing. Tuesday night students are invited to attend the Pioneer Pep Rally on Driscoll Green to enjoy performances from the Pioneer Pep Band, dance team and cheerleaders and hear speeches about DU’s upcoming athletic seasons.
On the morning of Wednesday, Oct. 14, free waffles, bacon, sausage and grits will be available at the Leo Block Alumni House from 9:30 to 12:30 p.m. At 6 p.m., DU’s men’s and women’s basketball teams will host the annual Basketball Fan Jam to introduce the players to the student body. The event includes free food, contests and prizes.
Thursday, Oct. 15 features the Study Break Under the Stars event, sponsored by DU Young Alumni, an alumni group for DU’s most recent alumni. The event will take place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Driscoll Green. Students can enjoy free food and fall drinks while listening to performances from student bands and a cappella groups. Attendees will also have the chance to win fall-themed prizes at the event.
For each of these events, students are encouraged to pick up a Homecoming Passport from the Pioneer Ambassadors, who will be available to hand out passports at each homecoming event throughout the week. The first 150 students to mark off four events in their passports will win free tickets to the Taste of DU event on Saturday.
On Friday, Oct. 16, the events catered toward parents and alumni begin with a parent’s lecture entitled “DU’s History in Pictures” at 10 a.m. Several other parent lectures will take place on Friday, including “Magnetic Networking: Teaching Your Student to Build a Professional Community” at 11 a.m., “Starting a Business After DU” at 1 p.m. and “Studying Abroad and the Cherrington Global Scholars Initiative” at 2 p.m.
Campus tours will be given at various times throughout the weekend, the first of which beginning at 10 a.m. on Friday. Attendees can choose from three different tours: a historical tour guided by DU’s historian, Steve Fisher, a student-guided tour featuring art on campus or a tour about the physical changes to campus in the past 20 years. Specific tour times can be found on the homecoming website.
Throughout the afternoon, there will be several “book chats” featuring local Denver and DU authors, including Bin Ramke and Clark Davis. Book chats will also be given on Saturday by Sandra Dallas and Kristen Iverson.
Other activities on Friday afternoon include the Career Services Open House, the Gymnastics Open House, the Living and Learning Communities Reception and the All-Alumni BBQ ($15 for general admission, $10 for young alumni, senior and graduate students). That evening participants are invited to attend the DU Ski Ball dinner ($60 per person) at 5 p.m., the Pioneer volleyball game against Oral Roberts University ($7) at 7 p.m. and the Pioneer hockey game against Michigan State University ($24 or $29) at 7:30 p.m. Student can still purchase $5 student tickets for each hockey game, but if they want to sit with their parents, they must purchase one of the more expensive tickets.
Saturday morning begins with a presentation by Chancellor Chopp entitled “Chopp Talk: Denver” at 8 a.m. at the Cable Center. Chancellor Chopp will take questions from attendees and discuss her vision for the future of DU.
At 11 a.m., the Colorado Women’s College at DU presents the Half the Sky* Fair, which will feature refreshments, entertainment and an international market of goods sold by artisans and businesswomen from around the world. Also at 11 a.m. is the Hillel Center for Jewish Life Coffee and Brunch.
The afternoon will feature Pio-Palooza and Taste of DU from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m., an outdoor carnival featuring lawn games, face painting, live entertainment and food from more than a dozen local restaurants and businesses. The event is free to attend, but sampling tickets are $25 for 20 tickets or $100 for a family ticket package.
At 3:30, the Center for Multicultural Excellence presents the Homecoming Out Reception, during which they invite LGBTQIA Pioneers and allies to enjoy food and conversation.
There are several athletic events to attend on Saturday, including the women’s swimming and diving meet at 12 p.m., the men’s soccer match against University of Nebraska-Omaha at 7 p.m. and the men’s hockey game against Michigan State University at 7 p.m. ($24 or $29).
Though it is not necessary to register for events on Monday through Thursday, registration is suggested for all weekend events. Tickets can be bought a la carte for each event with a cost, or an all-access pass is available for $99, which includes tickets to the hockey games on both Friday and Saturday, a ticket to the All-Alumni BBQ, a 20-ticket Taste of DU package, a 10-punch card for Coors Fitness Center and a Homecoming and Family Weekend t-shirt.
A full schedule of the week’s events can be found on DU’s homecoming website. To register for weekend events or purchase event tickets, please visit alumni.du.edu.
