- October 12, 2012
- 12:01 am
- Ashton Mitchell
Home at Loyola
This year’s Homecoming Weekend (October 12-14) is jam-packed full of events that students, faculty, staff, and alumni won’t want to miss. With so many ways to celebrate Rambler pride, Inside Loyola is highlighting just a few of this year’s “can’t miss” events.
Homecoming Weekend 2012 kicks off today, October 12, with Midnight Madness as the men’s and women’s basketball teams kick off their 2012-2013 season. From 9 p.m. to midnight, the Loyola community can watch as the teams take the court for their first official practices of the 2012-13 season. Celebrations to recognize the 50th anniversary of the 1963 NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament win and national championship will also kick off.
Throughout the weekend, Loyola will pay tribute to the class of 1962 and induct them into the Half-Century Club, a distinguished group of alumni and alumnae who have graduated from the University 50 years or more ago. Loyola’s 2012 Homecoming Weekend features a number of events for this special group of alumni.
On Saturday, October 13, at noon, Loyola is resurrecting a tradition with the 2012 Homecoming Parade. Twenty-four golf carts will be decorated by different student organizations and will be driven through the streets. Students from local high schools will be dancing along with Ramblers throughout the parade. The parade begins at the corner of Loyola and Winthrop Avenue.
Following the parade, head over to Halas Field for this year’s Homecoming Tent, which runs from 1-3 p.m. Guests will have the opportunity to enjoy a thirst-quenching line up of Chicago’s Goose Island beers, along with food from the restaurant. Come to the tent and mix and mingle with alumni and help celebrate LU Wolf’s 22nd Birthday. Registration for this event is required, and entry to the Homecoming Tent is $20 per person ($30 the day of). Tickets includes a $5 gift to student scholarships, three drink tickets, and food.
Starting at 3:30 p.m., Loyola will re-dedicate the Mundelein Center for the Fine and Performing Arts and host tours of the building. The new space is opening its doors, after years of construction, for a whirlwind showcase of dance, music, theatre, and visual arts performances. Students, faculty, staff, and other members of the Loyola community can take part in tours of The Newhart Family Theatre, Underground Laboratory Theatre, and Music Hall, all while taking in the unique entries of the Chicago International Poster Biennial that currently line the walls.
In addition to the Mundelein re-dedication, the University will officially christen The Newhart Family Theatre on Saturday night with a dedication ceremony at 7 p.m. The program includes performances by Loyola students and remarks from Loyola President and CEO Michael J. Garanzini, S.J., and the Newhart family, including alum and comedian Bob Newhart, who will be in attendance. For more on the event, click here.
April Browning, managing director and production coordinator for the Department of Fine Arts and Performing Arts, is looking forward to the new fine arts center being a powerful, important voice in the community. “We’re so excited to have The Newhart family here and see their reaction to the dedication of the theatre,” Browning says. “We have a fantastic evening of events with more than 100 students participating in workshops and lectures. It’s an incredibly exciting place and I think it’s going to be a powerhouse of an arts center.” Browning also mentioned that she thinks Mundelein Center is going to be a premier cultural destination for the north side of Chicago due to the program’s dedication to community and growing dance and music programs.
Mundelein Center is also one of three Loyola buildings that will be featured in Open House Chicago, a tour of more than 100 buildings in 15 Chicago neighborhoods. Sponsored by the Chicago Architecture Foundation, tours will run every half hour, running from 3:30–7:30 p.m. on October 13 and 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. on October 14. The Richard J. Klarchek Information Commons and Madonna della Strada Chapel will also be open for a behind-the-scenes look.
Homecoming Weekend wraps up on Sunday, October 14, with Mass at 9 a.m. in Madonna della Strada Chapel and the Half-Century Club Brunch at 10 a.m. All members of the Class of 1962 are welcome to attend to officially be inducted into the Half-Century Club. Registration is required.
These are just a few of the highlights from the weekend, so we encourage you to visit LUC.edu/homecoming to check out the full schedule of events for the weekend. Online registration is also available at the site.
Happy Homecoming, and remember to stay on top of all things Homecoming by following @Loyola_Alumni on Twitter and using the hashtag: #HomeAtLUC. You can also “like” Loyola’s Homecoming on Facebook. For more on social media at Homecoming, click here.
