Weeklong celebration of 'Devilish Homecoming' at West campus Oct. 26-30

What do flag football and hot wings have in common with a hypnotist?  How is an academic expo featuring faculty research linked with a “Devilish Haunted Ball” or an evening movie on the Fletcher Library Lawn or a big-top carnival?

Each is a popular piece of Arizona State University’s 2009 “Devilish Homecoming” celebration at the West campus, Oct. 26-30.  The weeklong festivities culminate in Tempe on Oct. 31 with the football Sun Devils taking on the University of California Golden Bears on Frank Kush Field at Sun Devil Stadium.

Homecoming and Open House events at the West campus are free, and additional information is available for each by email at WestHomecoming@asu.edu, or visit www.west.asu.edu/publicaffairs/homecomingevents.jpg.

The highlight of the five-day schedule at the West campus is the Wed., Oct. 28, Open House that is open to the public and includes a full day of events, displays, tours and more, beginning with an “Academic Expo” from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.  The final event on the Open House schedule is “Movies on the Lawn,” featuring the spook flick “Poltergeist,” beginning at 9 p.m.

The weeklong festivities begin for students Monday, Oct. 26, with a pair of events – “Fear the Fork” games on the Fletcher Lawn at 3 p.m., and a hypnotist session in La Sala in the University Center Building (UCB) at 7 p.m.  Included in the Fork games are a pumpkin pie-eating contest, pumpkin relays, three-legged races, tug-of-war, water balloon toss and more.  A DJ will spin CDs and prizes will be awarded to game winners.

On Tuesday, the annual Flag Football Tailgate and Tournament is featured, including a hot wing-eating contest.  The action takes place on the Las Casas Lawn, beginning with a griller-style BBQ at 5:30 p.m., tournament at 7 p.m., and the wing-eating competition at approximately 8 p.m.  Participants will receive event t-shirts, while tournament and wing winners will earn championship tees.  Team entry info is available at 602-543-8524, or visit http://west.asu.edu/fitness/intramurals.cfm.

In addition to the expo – featuring an inside look at faculty research, projects and works-in-progress – and Movies on the Lawn, the Wednesday Open House calendar of events features “Devils Decorate West,” a giant display area in the Center Courtyard from 2-5 p.m., highlighting colleges, programs, clubs and services; “Sparky’s Big Top” carnival from 4-7 p.m., on the Fletcher Library Lawn; and “Sun Devils Recruiting Sun Devils,” a networking and career opportunities meet-and-greet with ASU alumni from 5-7 p.m., in La Sala. To reserve your spot in Sun Devils Recruiting Sun Devils, visit http://students.asu.edu/career/rsvp.  From 2-5 p.m., campus tours will originate from the Devils Decorate West area, led by campus ambassadors from the Devils Advocates.  Also originating from the Center Courtyard beginning at 2 p.m. will be a chance for the public to experience a day in the life of a student.  “Be an ASU Student for the Day” features five 20-minutes classes (ASU 101, History of Arizona, Cross-Cultural Business Negotiations, Phoenix and Global Warming, Distance Learning Studios) with ASU faculty.

The festivities continue Thursday with an ultimate Frisbee tournament on the campus multi-purpose field west of the Sands Classroom Building.  The games begin at 3 p.m. and students are encouraged to enter individually or as part of a team.  Teams will be formed at the event.  The popular third annual talent show, “Sparky’s Star Search,” returns this year at 7 p.m., Oct. 29 in La Sala.  Last year’s show attracted nearly 20 entrants and an audience of over 200.  Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three student acts and an entry form can be found at http://tinyurl.com/SparkyStarSearch.  Auditions will be held Oct. 21 and 22 from 7-9 p.m., in the Second Stage West theater on the lower level of UCB.

Thursday also marks the first day of a two-day float-building project that will begin in UCB 320 and, as the float takes shape, will move to a different campus location.  The finished product will be the West campus entry featured in the Homecoming Parade in Tempe on Oct. 31. Float-building hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Oct. 29 and from 8 a.m. to finish, Oct. 30.

The final West campus Homecoming event is the student “Devilish Haunted Ball,” 9 p.m.-midnight, Oct. 30, in La Sala.  Dance-goers are asked to dress in semi-formal attire and a wide variety of food treats will be featured.  Last year over 100 revelers attended the Homecoming Ball and this year, once again, ball-goers are asked to bring a canned food donation.

“This schedule has something for everybody and is the product of hard work and creativity by the campus Programming and Activities Board, Office of Student Engagement, Student Affairs, the Associated Students of ASU’s West campus, our colleges and clubs and so many more dedicated students, faculty and staff,” says West campus Events Manager Heidi Maxwell.  “The goal is to present the university and this campus and the wonderful programs and services we offer to the campus and overall communities.

“There is a lot to see and do, and we know everyone will have a great time exploring and being a part of our Homecoming activities.”

Students, faculty and staff interested in volunteering to assist with Homecoming events should visit http://westhomecoming.eventbrite.com/. Note that the number of "Tickets" listed for each event represents the number of volunteer positions available.

Contact:                                 
Cathy Reyes-Talbot, Programming and Activities Board (PAB)
(602) 543-8200  
WestHomecoming@asu.edu

Heidi Maxwell, West campus Events Manager
(602) 543-5306
Heidi.Maxwell@asu.edu