by Michaella Lesieur, Staff Writer

The weekend UMass Dartmouth students and alumni have been waiting for is ready to begin: Homecoming. Corsair spirit will be strong for the 2016 Homecoming weekend, a three-day event that begins on September 29 and runs all the way through October 1. To kick off the celebration, there will be a list of activities starting Thursday, September 29, such as the Frederick Douglass Unity House hosting their annual dinner at 5:30 p.m. Bill Plympton, the creator of seven animated features and forty animated short films, who has collaborated with stars such as Madonna, Kanye West, and “Weird Al” Yankovic, will be making an appearance on campus for an exclusive reception and chance to talk with the artist. The reception starts at 4 p.m. on Friday in the CVPA Campus Gallery, following the talk in the Claire T. Carney Library’s Grand Reading Room from 6-8 p.m. Athletes will be taking the stage Friday night as well to receive prestigious notations. Starting at 6:00 p.m., the UMass Dartmouth Athletic Hall of Fame Dinner and Induction at the Woodland Commons will be celebrating, honoring, and inducting past alumni athletes. The following athletes will be inducted: the late Lee ‘General’ Holman from the class of 1916, SMU men’s basketball player; John Rolli, former ice hockey coach; Michael Roy class of ‘75, SMU men’s basketball class of ‘94; Julie Smalley, women’s soccer and softball; and the women’s soccer team of ‘33. On Saturday, October 1, the alumni athletes will take the field for a series of alumni games which includes men’s baseball and women’s softball, lacrosse, and basketball. All games are free of charge, but pre-registering is recommended. Alumni will also get a chance to walk the grounds they once walked, with an Alumni Campus Tour, starting at 12:30 p.m. in the Blue and Gold Room, located in the lower level of the MacLean Campus Center. Also on Saturday, there will be a pirate themed Alumni Tent, filled with fun for all ages. From 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., people will be able to enjoy food, a cash bar, lawn games, arts and crafts, a bounce house and music by Jeremy Mazzola. Also requiring pre-registration, the Alumni Tent is the most anticipated event of the weekend. Senior Sociology major Nashely Rosa said, “My closest friends have recently graduated but they always come down for the weekend, so for me it’s kind of like they never left.” To add to the festivities there will be a costume contest open to all, in which judges will vote for the best pirate costume. To pre-register for events, visit the UMass Dartmouth Alumni Website.

Photo Courtesy: umassd.edu