EUGENE–University of Oregon alumni and families will gather Oct. 20—22 in Eugene for a fun-filled weekend of events marking the university’s 2000 Homecoming and Fall Family Weekend.

Duck football, campus tours, class reunions, the annual Homecoming Expo and breakfast with UO President Dave Frohnmayer are among the many events included in the weekend’s festivities.

Families of UO students, who are welcome to visit their student’s classes on Friday, Oct. 20, will want to include a stop at the Family Weekend Welcome Table to pick up pre-ordered football game tickets, available there only until 5 p.m. on Friday. Staffed from noon—5 p.m. Friday and from 10 a.m.—2 p.m. Saturday at the west entrance to the Erb Memorial Union (EMU), 1222 E. 13th Ave. in the heart of campus, the welcome table also will offer the latest information about weekend events.

On Friday afternoon, university archivist Susan Storch will offer a look at UO traditions and memorabilia during a 2 p.m. tour of Archives and Special Collections at Knight Library, 1501 Kincaid St. Exercise physiologist Gary Klug and biomechanics researcher Li-Shan Chou will give a 3:30 p.m. presentation in the Alumni Lounge at Gerlinger Hall, 1468 University St.

At 8 p.m. Friday, a free Homecoming concert is scheduled in Beall Concert Hall, 961 E. 18th Ave. Featured will be four of the UO School of Music’s top ensembles–the Oregon Jazz Ensemble, the University Symphony, the University Singers and the Oregon Wind Ensemble.

The evening continues with the Homecoming Ball, "Twilight on the Delta," organized and hosted by the Student Alumni Association. Beginning at 8:30 p.m. in the EMU Ballroom, students can dance the night away in surroundings reflecting the Mississippi Delta. Tickets, available at The Break on the ground floor of the EMU, are $10 each.

Also on Friday, 40th reunions for the classes of 1959, ’60 and ’61 and 35th reunions for the classes of 1964, ’65 and ’66 will begin with registration from 2—7 p.m. at Valley River Inn, 1000 Valley River Way. A no-host reception overlooking the Willamette River will follow from 6—8 p.m.

Members of one of the university’s oldest honorary groups, the Society of Friars, have scheduled reunion events throughout the weekend, beginning with a welcome reception and banquet from 6—9 p.m. Friday at the Eugene Town Club, 975 Oak St. On Saturday, Oct. 21, a breakfast buffet is set from 9—10:30 a.m. at Valley River Inn and a Friars Tailgater is planned from 5—7 p.m. at Autzen Stadium, 2700 Centennial Blvd.

Fall Family Weekend and Homecoming continue Saturday with "Campus Perspectives" tours as well as activities associated with the football game at Autzen Stadium.

At 8:30 a.m. Saturday, early birds can get a close-up view of the botanical campus during a tour hosted by UO landscape designer Jane Brubaker. The one-hour tour will begin at the Museum of Natural History, 1680 E. 15th Ave. near the Knight Law Center.

After a rest stop and coffee break–and the option to stay for a tour or free workout–at the Student Recreation and Fitness Center, 1202 E. 15th Ave., a mid-morning tour showcasing campus buildings, hosted by Student Ambassadors, will begin at 10 a.m. at Oregon Hall, 1585 E. 13th Ave.

Among other day-time activities on Saturday is an 11:30 a.m. tour of the Duck Vision facilities that provide big-screen replays to football fans inside Autzen Stadium. Departing from Knight Library, 1501 Kincaid St., this tour led by 1986 UO alumnus Mike Boring of Chambers Communications requires pre-registration with the UO Alumni Association.

A tailgate banquet for alumni attending their 35th- and 40th-year reunions will be held from 2:30—5 p.m. at the Valley River Inn. Class pictures will be taken, and advance reservations for the no-host reception are required.

The action moves to the Autzen Stadium area late Saturday afternoon, with the all-alumni tailgate party and Homecoming Expo both beginning at 4 p.m.

The tailgater inside the Moshofsky Sports Center, 2735 Leo Harris Parkway, is open only to those with game tickets. Duck fans sharing pre-game excitement can mingle, purchase food and beverages, hear music and view big plays from past UO football games on big-screen televisions.

At the expo, a virtual UO road show at Wildish Plaza outside Autzen Stadium, fans can have photos taken with the Oregon Duck mascot, swing to some music and browse through exhibits showcasing schools, colleges and programs.

In Saturday’s gridiron matchup, the Ducks will take on the Arizona Wildcats at 7:15 p.m. at Autzen Stadium. Reserved-seat and general admission tickets for the game are sold out but standing-room-only tickets are on sale.

Those Duck faithful unable to get Autzen Stadium tickets still can catch the football action by watching the game on big-screen television in the warm-and-dry comfort of The Break on the ground floor of the EMU.

From 10 a.m.—noon on Sunday, Oct. 22, President Dave Frohnmayer will host a breakfast at the EMU Ballroom. Families can talk to the president, ask questions and discuss college life at the UO. The cost is $15 per person and advance reservations are required.

Information on Homecoming events including reunions is available by calling the UO Alumni Association (UOAA), (541) 346-5656. For information about Fall Family Weekend, call the Office of Student life, 346-3216.

Weekend event information also appears on the UOAA web site at http://alumni.uoregon.edu and on the Student Life Parent Programs pages at http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~stl/parent/Weekends_schedule.html.

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