Homecoming Festivities “Rollin’” Out at Illinois Wesleyan

Sept. 22, 2004

BLOOMINGTON, Ill.–Illinois Wesleyan University will celebrate Homecoming 2004 with a week’s worth of special events for students, alumni, and the IWU community. The theme for this year’s Homecoming is “High Rollin’,” and activities will take place from Sept. 26 through Oct. 3.

Alumni Homecoming Activities
To honor the distinguished careers of R. Dwight Drexler, class of ’34, and Maxine Drexler, class of ’47, a special presentation will be made on Saturday, Oct. 2, at 9:30 a.m. in Westbrook Auditorium of Presser Hall. A reception will immediately follow. All former students and friends of the Drexlers are invited to attend.

R. Dwight Drexler taught piano theory at Illinois Wesleyan from 1949 until his retirement in 1978. He twice served as interim director of the School of Music. Maxine Drexler joined the IWU voice faculty after her graduation in 1946. She retired from teaching at the University in 1997.

Other Homecoming activities include an alumni and friends golf outing at 11 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 1, at Prairie Vista Golf Course, 502 Sale Barn Rd., Bloomington. The entry fee is $75 and includes green fees, cart rental, lunch and prizes.

Also on Friday, a series of free lectures will be presented in the “Back to College” program. The 50-minute programs are:

-- “Financial Planning 101,” Mark Aubry, class of ’95, President, Aubry Financial Group – LLC, Certified Estate Advisor, 10 a.m., Beckman Auditorium in The Ames Library.

-- “Kiln-Fused Glass,” Kevin Strandburg, IWU associate professor of art, 10 a.m., The Joyce Eichhorn Ames School of Art Building, room 111.

-- “Financial Planning 401,” Ben Rhodes, class of ’69, IWU Director of Development, and Mark Aubry, class of ’95, President of Aubry Financial Group – LLC, Certified Estate Advisor, 11 a.m, Beckman Auditorium in The Ames Library.

-- “An Energy Paradigm for the New Century,” R. Given Harper, IWU professor of biology, 1p.m., Beckman Auditorium in The Ames Library.

-- “Discovering your Value, Leveraging your Legacy,” Greg Ranney, class of ’73, President of Dynamic Success Patterns, 1 p.m., meeting room 214 of The Ames Library.

-- “Is the United States still a Land of Economic Opportunity for Immigrants?,” Michael Seeborg, Robert S. Eckley Distinguished Professor of Economics, 2 p.m., Beckman Auditorium in The Ames Library.

-- “Some Intriguing Anatomy,” Tom Griffiths, Beling Professor of Natural Science, 2 p.m., Center for Natural Science, room E104.

-- “The Beatles and the Spirit of the 1960s,” W. Michael Weis, professor of history, 3 p.m., Beckman Auditorium in The Ames Library.

The IWU Titan band will perform on the Sheean Library steps throughout Saturday morning as family activities, including a classic car display are held on IWU’s Eckley Quadrangle.

Also on Saturday is the 13th annual Titan 5k Run/Fun Walk at 8 a.m. at the IWU Track located just north of the Shirk Center in the 400 Block of E. Kelsey St., Bloomington. The event is open to the public as well as alumni. Entry fee is $15 and includes a T-shirt and special prizes.

A complimentary Homecoming luncheon will be provided at the Shirk Center on Saturday, beginning at 11:45 a.m., followed by the IWU versus Elmhurst football game at 1:30 p.m. at Wilder Field.

On Sunday at 10 a.m. there will be a Homecoming chapel service, “Where We First Grew Up!,” presented by University Chaplain Dennis E. Groh. At 11 a.m. there will be a Minority Alumni Network Recognition Ceremony and Service. Both events will take place at Evelyn Chapel, 1301 Park St., Bloomington.

The annual alumni softball game will also be held Sunday, at 1 p.m. at the IWU softball field.

To sign up for these events, or for additional information on alumni Homecoming activities, contact Mary Bible at (309) 556-3091.

Student Homecoming Activities
All week long IWU students will conduct philanthropy activities to benefit the local community. Money raised in the “Penny Wars”, 50/50 raffle, and raffle for the Spirit Couch at the Homecoming football game will benefit Stepping Stones, the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) sexual assault program which provides 24-hour assistance for sexual assault and sexual abuse victims and their families in McLean County.

The free and confidential service also serves as the central sexual assault resource and referral agency. Services focus on educating the community about sexual assault in addition to empowering survivors, their families, and their friends on the path of healing. The students will also sponsor a canned food drive for local food pantries. Other events will include:

Sunday, Sept. 26, Ice Cream Social, 9:30 p.m., Hansen Student Center
Monday, Sept. 27, Blood Drive, 1 to 5 p.m., Hansen Student Center; Lip Sync Contest, 9 p.m., Main Lounge, Memorial Center
Tuesday, Sept. 28, Spirit Day, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., The Eckley Quadrangle
Wednesday, Sept. 29, Talent Show, 8 p.m., Hansen Student Center
Thursday, Sept. 30, Coronation, 8 p.m., Hansen Student Center
Friday, Oct. 1, Tailgating, 4:30 to 6 p.m., Shirk Center parking lot; Titan Games (fireworks immediately following), 6:30 p.m., Wilder Field; Date Auction, 9 p.m., Hansen Student Center
Saturday, Oct. 2, IWU vs. Elmhurst, 1:30 p.m., Wilder Field; Homecoming dinner, 7:30 p.m., “Luck Be a Titan Tonight" Homecoming dance, 8:30 p.m. to 12 a.m., Radisson Hotel and Conference Center, 10 Brickyard Dr., Bloomington.