Purdue invites community to get involved in Homecoming

Margie Stoltz, program adviser for the Purdue Student Union Board, said there are many opportunities for local residents to get involved in the Homecoming celebration, which begins the week of Sept. 18, culminating in the Homecoming game against Minnesota on Saturday, Sept. 23.

"One thing we are in need of at this point are donations of flatbeds to student organizations for them to build their floats on," she said. "Also, we are looking for locations on which to build floats, so we invite anyone in the community who has a large piece of farm land or other space they could let students use to get involved."

And as always, Stoltz said, they are looking for community organizations and businesses to build floats for the Night Train Parade, which is scheduled for 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22. The parade route will start at the Elliott Hall of Music and end at Slayter Hill. Community members also are invited to have a vehicle in the parade or organize a group to walk in the parade.

"We've had modest community participation in Homecoming in years past, but this year we'd like to increase those numbers," she said. "So far this year, we have a couple of businesses and non-profit organizations that have expressed interest, which is an increase from last year, but we're always eager to have more because Homecoming is not just Purdue's celebration, it's really a community celebration."

This year's Homecoming theme is "Get in the Game." Activities begin Monday, Sept. 18, with businesses in the Chauncey Hill, Purdue West and Levee areas participating in themed window paintings of their establishments. Also beginning Sept. 18 is the banner competition, in which organizations place themed banners on the Grant, Wood, Northwestern and University parking garages.

A campus-wide blood drive is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 20, in the East and West Faculty Lounges of Purdue Memorial Union.

A pep rally is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 21, on Slayter Hill, which will include a brief speech by Purdue football coach Joe Tiller, and the Boilermaker Night Train Parade and fireworks will be at 8 p.m. Friday.

From 9-11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 23, the celebration on the Purdue Mall will feature a series of events and displays by colleges, schools and departments. Also, performances by musical groups and other artists will be featured, and food will be available for sale from a variety of vendors. More information about Purdue's Homecoming activities are available online.

In a departure from years past, the Homecoming king and queen winners will be announced and crowned during the pep rally Thursday at Slayter Hill instead of at Saturday's game. The winners will be introduced during halftime of the Purdue-Minnesota game Saturday.

Registration forms for parade participation must be submitted to the Purdue Student Union Board by Sept. 8.

Downloadable registration forms for businesses and non-profits are available by clicking on the Homecoming links on the Purdue Student Union Board Web site. Those interested may also contact Stoltz at (765) 494-8907 or mcstoltz@purdue.edu.

Writer: Kim Medaris, (765) 494-6998, kmedaris@purdue.edu

Source: Margie Stoltz, (765) 494-8907, mcstoltz@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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