Welcome home, Wildcats

BY KELLY BINGHAM The Signpost correspondent

OGDEN - It's time for everyone to put on their purple best and shout out their loudest Wildcat growl - it's Homecoming week at Weber State University!

Homecoming is the annual event that beckons current and former Wildcats to return and pay homage to the school that turned their blood purple. This year's theme, "It's My Life," was inspired by the Bon Jovi tune.

Due to late advertising, most activities planned for Homecoming 2005 have been unknown to students.

"I'm not planning on attending any of Homecoming," said Palmer Heiner, a 22-year-old sales sophomore. "I don't even know what things are going on or what's going to happen. Maybe if they offer beer I'll show up."

Beer is unlikely due to a state ban on alcohol at universities. However, participants may bring their own apple or root beer.

Cassidy Mellor, a 22-year-old senior, is excited about Homecoming.

"It's a time to celebrate the school," Mellor said. "Plus, it's the only time I can get my husband to take me dancing."

As an incentive for students to get in touch with their purple side, prize tickets will be issued to anyone participating in Homecoming events.

Campus activities include several events at the Stewart Bell Tower Plaza including "What would you do for your Homecoming date?" This involves "Fear Factor"-esque dares that will score the winner freebies like dinner for two and dance tickets.

Homecoming will be officially inaugurated by Ogden's Mayor Matthew Godfrey by declaring the week of Oct. 16 to be "WSU Wildcat Pride and Homecoming Week." This will be the first proclamation of its type since 1989, when most freshman and sophomore Wildcats were still in preschool.

The mayor's involvement is part of an attempt to include Ogden in the festivities. Such activities include Wednesday's "A Night on 25th Street," when participating restaurants will offer discounts to their purple-wearing patrons. The Eccles Dinosaur Park will also offer free admission on Thursday night for any group showing a Wildcard.

The WSU Alumni Center plan on welcoming back former students with events including: Alumni band performances, 5k races and reunions for Wildcats who attended during the 1960s. Throw on some beads, dig out those old tie-dyes and have a sit in at WSU for old-time's sake.

"We find that people who were engaged in groups when they attended Weber are more interested in coming back to alumni activities," said Lynell Gardner, WSU Alumni Relations executive director. "People are thrilled to see old teammates and group members. Those connections make them excited to come back."

The highlight of the alumni activities will be the 36th Annual Homecoming Awards Program.

"This award ceremony honors alumni that have made significant achievements since graduating from Weber," Gardner said.

Honorees include Tom Allen, former Utah state auditor; Mary Hall, former Ogden Nature Center director; and Robert Dotson, T-Mobile president and chief executive officer.

"We will also be honoring August Ahlf, who graduated in 1932 and went on to become an internationally recognized and award winning civil and structural engineer," Gardner said.

Alumni activities are important during Homecoming because it reminds current students of two things. One: People really do graduate from WSU; and two: They can get pretty nifty jobs.

What would any Homecoming week be without the obligatory dance? This year's dance will be Friday at 8 p.m. in the Shepherd Union Building Ballroom. Tickets go on sale this week.

Official Homecoming events come to an end on Saturday following a tailgate party, when the WSU football team will put the "Mac Smack" down on Sacramento State University.

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