University of Wisconsin La Crosse - La Crosse Yearbook (La Crosse, WI)

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Football wasn't always part of the Homecoming tradition, however. During World War II, wom- en's field hockey took the place of the football game because there were only twenty-nine men enrolled that year. Another part of that unusual Homecoming was the dance in which soldiers from Fort McCoy were brought in to serve as the dancing partners for the women. Since the 1984 Homecoming celebration is a year of tradition for UW-L, the Homecoming theme, By Lantetn's Light, brought back many traditions from yesteryear and started many new traditions. The events centered around the Hanging of the Lantern and the Lighting of the L on October 11. - Joel Schnell P atteville defeate ; ,, - Joel Schnell

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a group of students who would walk down Main Street in Columns of four to the theater. Some students carried torches to light the way and there were small pep tallies on street Corners along the way. The culmination of the mad rush was, of Course, a free movie. But what would Homecoming be without a queen! The first Homecoming Queen was crowned in 1937. Until 1974, the court consisted of only women, but after that year, men were also selected to Homecoming royalty. The Hanging ofthe Lantern and the Lighting of the . I are the longest running Homecoming traditions at UW-L. The Hanging of the Lanr tern, began in 1931 and .was started by O. 0. White, a UW-L English professor. lle wel- comed the UW-I. alumni back with these words We'll hang the lantern in the old College tower over the south door. You won't need your key, the door will be open. The Lighting of the .l' on Grandad's Bluff was started in 1955. It was lighted on the first night of Home- coming and remained lighted until the week of festivities ended. M IORWAV 13m 1509 l The main event of any Homecoming is the ' football game. La Crosse won its first Home- coming game against Lawrence College, 14-91 - Greg Behrendt we 1' I Q. R A Dan Novak Photos on opposite page: Homecoming floats in the Twilight parade. This page Top: King Dan Nievinski and Queen Carlyn Nicholas. Left: A Couple enloys the festivities. Above: A group around the bonfire in llixon Forest - Bob Hammerstrom 23

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- Bob Hmmentrom - Joel Schnell Qaposite page: Left: Students cast their ballots for homecoming royalty. Left: Homecoming King, Dan Nievinsky 1nd Queen, Carlyn Nicholas at the dinner dance. This page: Above: Alpha Xi Deltl's fmt-plnce float in the Torchlight Parade. Left: Chairman of the Homecoming Committee, Cathy Armbruster supervises the release of ballons during the half-time show. 25