Homecoming Week 2011: Rockin' it

University of Michigan-Dearborn kicked off its 2011 Homecoming Week on Oct. 24 with a dedication ceremony for the new campus rock that student organizations will use for promotional purposes.

Chancellor Daniel Little and Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management and Student Life Stanley Henderson were among the first to paint the new 8,500 lb. rock on Monday.

According to Student Government President David M. Knezek, Jr., the former rock on campus was too low to the ground and the surrounding area was poorly graded, allowing water and mud to pool around it.

"Our intent was to provide students with a larger, more professional and environmentally-friendly resource for which to promote their group, organization or event on our campus," said Knezek, who lobbied for a special allocation from the Student Activities Office to fund the project.

"The new rock sits atop a base of river rock which sits atop an EPDM liner to prevent run off from reaching the groundwater system," he said. "In addition to preventing paint and other materials from seeping into the ground, we are also encouraging students to use environmentally-friendly paint."

The new rock was delivered Oct. 20 by Plymouth Rock Shoppe, which also hauled away the former campus rock.

The old rock will be broken into small pieces so that students, organizations, campus leaders and alumni can have a piece of UM-Dearborn history, Knezek said.

Homecoming Week will continue through Thursday, Oct. 27 with many activities geared toward this year's Vegas theme, "Welcome to Fabulous UM-Dearborn!"

Tuesday, Oct. 25

• 9:30 am - 5th Annual Pancake Breakfast on the UC Stage
• 5 pm - Annual Softball Game vs City of Dearborn Police Department at King Boring Field

Come play with or cheer on UM-Dearborn students as they take on the City of Dearborn Police Department in the annual softball game. There will be food, prizes and games including a 3-legged race, sack race, home run hitting contest, base-running contest, raffle for prizes and a canned food drive.

Wednesday, Oct. 26

• 9:30 am - Pancake Breakfast in FCS Atrium
• Noon - "Rowing in the Pond" Cardboard Boat Races in the Chancellor's Pond

Watch student organizations in homemade cardboard and duct tape boats race each other around Chancellor's Pond in the annual boat races.

• 5:30 pm - Maize and Blue Bowl presented by Graduates of the Last Decade (GOLD) in the field behind the UC (near CASL Annex)

Take on UM-Dearborn Alumni in the first-ever student vs. alumni flag football game. Concessions will be sold at the game.

Thursday, Oct. 27

• 11 am - Door Decorating Contest Judging
• 7 pm - Annual Homecoming Dance sponsored by the Student Activities Board in Kochoff Hall

Dance the night away and play casino style games.

Questions? Email [email protected].

The Office of Communications and Marketing also is sponsoring a QR-code contest for tech-savvy students, faculty and staff who own a smartphone or tablet with a camera. First place prize is a $25.00 Debit Dollars for McKinley Cafe/Extreme Pita. For more information on how to participate, visit http://www.umd.umich.edu/qrcode.

Main photo by Millard Berry. Additional photos by Jenny Thelen.