One of last year’s new events is returning for UW-Platteville’s 2007 Homecoming.

“The academic event is … pretty popular,” Hanah Diebold, junior chemistry and criminalistics major, said. “It has the trivia aspect for those that don’t like to compete in the physical events. We didn’t expect it to be that popular.”

UW-P students, faculty and alumni all participate in homecoming each year, Diebold said.

According to the UW-P Web site, this year’s Homecoming theme is Pioneer Spirit: Decades of Rock. One new event is the best-dressed, in which people can dress up to represent their favorite decade of rock.

“We started throwing ideas around and took it to the event chair, and the board of faculty and then it was approved,” Diebold said. Diebold, a co-coordinator, supervises homecoming.

Each year, organizations and groups on campus compete both physically and academically in events. The groups, organizations and residence halls have to sign up in advance for each event they are planning to participate in, Wetzel said. This year, a new group was added that any student could join. If a student wanted to join in on the fun and didn’t sign up before the deadline, they can attend the events and be awarded points for spirit.

“It’s the spirit of the week,” Valerie Wetzel, assistant director for the Pioneer Student Center and adviser to Homecoming, said. “It lets us compete in a friendly competitive way.”

“I love watching the Greeks,” Diebold said. “The houses have such creative ideas. I also like the tug of war for the more active people. Watching people get pushed into the water is fun.
Everybody motivates each other.”

“Homecoming is just another part of campus life,” Aymie Oliver, junior electrical engineer, said. “It gives you the chance to show your spirit for school, your letters, and build relationships.”