Open houses, a colloquium, receptions, a concert, a play, a 5K run, a luncheon, a gala, athletic contests and more crowd the schedule of events for Denison's 88th annual Homecoming Weekend starting on Thursday (Oct. 14) and continuing on Friday (Oct. 15), Saturday (Oct. 16) and Sunday (Oct. 17). Many of these events are open to the local community in addition to the hundreds of alumni who will return to Granville and the campus to renew ties with friends and former faculty. The classes of 1994 and 1999 will return for their 10th and 5th year reunions, respectively.

The 12th Annual Career Fair in Slayter Student Union from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday will have a large group of alumni representatives from companies across the U.S., as well as many other organization representatives, discussing internships and employment opportunities with current students.

That evening, Jon Sobel, formerly senior attorney and board member at Yahoo!, will discuss "Ethics in the Workplace: The Dangers and Possibilities of Everyday Life" at 7 p.m. in the Burton D. Morgan Lecture Hall (Room 115).

** Anyone suffering from workplace stress might want to take a few swings at the Delta Chi 'Car Bash' fundraiser from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Mitchell Center parking lot. **

Friday afternoon the department of psychology will host Dennis Shaffer '91, now a faculty member at OSU-Mansfield, at 4:30 p.m. in Burton Morgan Center, Lecture Hall for a presentation of his research on perceptions and action. The colloquium, "A Strategy to Catch Fly Balls and Frisbees and Misconceptions About Their Trajectories," is open to the public.

Also beginning at 4:30 p.m. will be a reception and student showcase in the Department of Communication at Higley Hall. The newly-renovated space for the department will be open until 6 p.m. Other departmental and academic open houses include:Biology, 6:30 to 8 p.m., Friday, Samson Talbot Hall;Education, 11 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Knapp Hall with discussion about the University's new approach to preparing teachers;Political Science, 3 p.m., Saturday, Knapp Hall 3rd floor for informal discussions; andSociology/Anthropology, 4 to 5 p.m., Saturday, Jordan Library in Knapp Hall for informal presentations on new research projects and changes in the department.

The Varsity D Association will introduce the latest Hall of Fame candidates at 6 p.m. on Friday in the Multipurpose Room of the Mitchell Center with a reception following. This years inductees are: Scott M. Neff '87, baseball; Darren J. Slattery '87, football; Charles H. Lownes '88, swimming; Christine Talarico '93, field hockey and lacrosse; and Christi D. Clay '94, basketball. The 2004 Varsity D Athletic Citation recipient is Bruce A. Corrie '57. Varsity D Association member and their guests are invited to attend this event.

The Black Student Union will re-dedicate its newly renovated lounge space at 6 p.m. on Friday in Smith Hall. Members of the current executive board will be on hand. It is the 35th anniversary of the founding of the Black Student Union and the Black Studies Department at Denison. Later in the weekend, Denison's Black Alumni Association hosts a Scholars Open House from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday in the Welsh Hills Room of Burton Morgan Center and ** a "New Soul Social" at 10 p.m. on Saturday in the Alumni Atrium of the Burton Morgan Center. Members of the National Pan-Hellenic Council will present a Party-Step exhibition and invite alums to participate. **

Two concerts are on the schedule. At 8 p.m. on Friday evening, Mark O'Connor's Hot Swing Trio with Frank Vignola and Jon Burr will have Swasey Chapel warming up to the Grappelli/Reinhardt inspired cool jazz in a concert presented by the Vail Series. A concert by the Chamber Singers and the Chamber Orchestra will begin at 8 p.m. on Saturday evening in Swasey Chapel. The "Viva Vivaldi" program features the "Concerto Grosso in D major" by Corelli and Vivaldi's "Magnificat in G minor."

On Saturday (Oct. 16), energetic runners and walkers will start the day with the "Big Red Buzzard" 5K Fun Run/Walk at 8 a.m. departing from the circle drive on the eastern side of the Burton D. Morgan Center. Open to everyone, prizes will be awarded.

Other Saturday morning activities include: an open house and guided tours of the William Howard Doane Library from 9 a.m. to noon; an alumni swimming and diving meet that begins at 10 a.m. in the Gregory Pool; and ** kids activities at Lamson Lodge start with pumpkin painting at 10 a.m., a climbing wall and bouncer from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and a Kids' Carnival with games, face painting, piñatas and more from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. ** All children are welcome. Student volunteers from the Honors Program and the Denison Community Association will serve as guides and helpers for these activities and donations will be accepted for their philanthropic projects.

** The "Denny-DU" Homecoming Parade will delight onlookers starting at 11 a.m. The parade will line up on North Main Street and proceed east on Broadway to Prospect, north to College and west on College to Presidents Drive then over the college hill to the Mitchell Center. ** The traditional Homecomers' Lunch in the Mitchell Center starts at 11:30 a.m. and is open to the public. Costs are $12 per adult and $6 per child age 6 to 12 and free for children under 6. The DCA Habitat for Humanity volunteers will have a coin drive at the luncheon.

"To Go" containers will be available at the lunch for participants who want to cheer on Denison's women's field hockey team in their game vs. Kenyon at noon on the women's field hockey field. Piper Stadium will echo with the music of the Pep Band -- after a short practice at noon in the Mitchell Center Student Lounge -- when both current and alumni members provide extra "oomph" at the football game against Ohio Wesleyan University at 1 p.m. ** Hall of Fame induction ceremonies and a Dance Team performance will take place at half time. ** A women's soccer game again the College of Wooster kicks off at 2 p.m. on Barclay-Thomsen Field; men's soccer at 7 p.m. that evening vs. Kenyon College on Barclay-Thomsen Field; a Water Polo Club tournament with Ohio University, Miami University and Denison teams competing, 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. in Gregory Pool.

Numerous group reunions are also planned for the Homecoming weekend. Greek sororities and fraternities hosting open houses include: Kappa Kappa Gamma, 10 to 11 a.m., Saturday, with the house board to review new decorating ideas and from 2 to 4 p.m. for a Kappa Birthday Party; Alpha Phi Alpha, special tables during Homecomers' Lunch; Lambda Chi Alpha, 1 to 4 p.m., Saturday, in the Lodge at Morrow House with an alumni/active softball game; Delta Chi, 3 to 6 p.m., Ash House, for a cookout; Sigma Phi Epsilon, 4:30 p.m., Sunset House Lodge, for the alumni corporation fall meeting; Pi Beta Phi, 6 to 9 p.m., Welsh Hills Room of Burton Morgan Center, for a 50th anniversary celebration and from 9 a.m. to noon on Sunday in the Pi Phi chapter house on West College Street for an open house; Kappa Alpha Theta, 6 to 9 p.m., Veggie Dining Room of Curtis Hall, for a 75th anniversary banquet and program. The Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual Alumni/ae Association will meet at 6 p.m. on Friday at the home of Professor Julie Mulroy for an informal cookout, and again at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday at the College Town House (334 E. Broadway) for a discussion of the campus climate on GLB issues and activities, and at 6 p.m. on Saturday at the College Town House for its annual dinner.

The Homecoming Gala in Slayter Union closes Saturday's festivities from 9 p.m. till 1 a.m. in Slayter Union. Music and dancing will fill the student union from the Roost on the 3rd floor to the Snack Bar and out onto the new Campus Common. Refreshments will be served in multiple locations.

An ecumenical worship service and Catholic Mass close the Homecoming weekend events. The Ecclesia service with the Rev. Mark R. Orten, University chaplain, is at 12:30 p.m. in Swasey Chapel on Sunday (Oct. 17) and Mass will be celebrated at 4:30 p.m., also in Swasey Chapel.

About Denison:

Denison University, founded in 1831, is an independent, residential liberal arts institution located in Granville, Ohio. A highly selective college enrolling 2,100 full-time undergraduate students from all 50 states and dozens of foreign countries, Denison is a place where innovative faculty and motivated students collaborate in rigorous scholarship, civic engagement and the cultivation of independent thinking.

For press inquiries:

Name

Barbara Stambaugh

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Primary Email

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