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November 3, 2005

Homecoming events on tap this weekend

Peter Kelley
Art Wake, a painter for Facilities Services, rolls purple paint along the inside of a giant “W” in front of Suzzallo Library on Red Square to celebrate Homecoming, Nov. 5. Wake and fellow painters Jay McKay and Felipe Rivera and their lead, Allan Webb, worked quickly to outline and color the roughly 23-foot by 23-foot letter, hoping that rain wouldn’t spoil it before it dried. It worked, but since then the purple paint has faded a bit. The crew used a type of paint that is removed by using vinegar, Webb said. The image will be removed after Homecoming. Not to be outdone on purpleness, Governor Christine Gregoire and Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels proclaimed Nov. 4 as Purple Day in honor of the Huskies.

The UW Alumni Association is sponsoring a Homecoming Rally beginning at 8 p.m. (rain or shine) Friday, Nov. 4 in Red Square. It is free, and everyone is invited.

Husky legend Greg Lewis, star running back of the 1990 Husky team that went to the Rose Bowl and finished No. 5 in the nation, will join radio personalities from KJR-AM as emcees, introducing the Homecoming royalty, the Husky Cheer Squad and other alumni celebrities.

Brewster Denny, a former UW professor and dean of the Daniel J. Evans School of Public Affairs, will start the festivities with the ceremonial ringing of the Denny Bell. He is the great grandson of Arthur and Mary Denny, founders of the UW.

The highlight of the evening will be a special performance by the Husky Marching Band. Other attractions include free food and fun giveaways. The Husky Team Shop will also be on hand selling Husky gear.

At the end of the evening, the band will take off on its traditional march through campus, rallying the troops for the next day’s Pac-10 football game between the Huskies and Oregon State at Husky Stadium.

The Homecoming Rally is the highlight of Homecoming on the UW campus, which also features these events:


  • The UW Alumni Association’s Homecoming Kickoff will be held Friday, Nov. 4. It’s a reception for alumni to celebrate the Purple & Gold Society (alumni who graduated from the UW at least 50 years ago), the Class of 1955 and the legion of UWAA volunteers. The reception runs from 6-8 p.m. in the Walker-Ames Room in Kane Hall. Everyone is welcome. Go to UWalum.com for details.
  • The Multicultural Alumni Partnership’s 11th Annual Bridging the Gap Breakfast will be held Saturday, Nov. 5, in the HUB Ballroom. This breakfast raises money for scholarships for students from underrepresented minorities. Everyone is invited. Go to UWalum.com for details.
  • The UW Economics Alumni Organization is holding a special lecture right before the Homecoming football game on Saturday, November 5. The lecture, which runs from 10-11:30 a.m., is The Economics of College Sports, featuring UW Tacoma Professor Katie Baird and Jeff Compher, executive associate athletic director at the UW.
  • The UW football team meets Oregon State at 3:30 p.m. in Husky Stadium.


For questions about these or other Homecoming Week activities, go to www.UWalum.com.