Spirit Week 2010 blends new and old traditions

New events will join with established Spirit Week traditions to celebrate the 146th Lehigh-Lafayette football game.

For those without a ticket to the big game, which is being played at Lafayette on Saturday, Nov. 20, the first-ever Lehigh-sponsored telecast/tailgate party will be held in Stabler Arena, joining the more than 60 similar gatherings around the country and in London. Those who prefer to experience the game on the Goodman Campus can tailgate from 10 a.m. to noon and then go into Stabler to watch the game with other supporters on a 25-foot screen. Cost is $10, and tickets can be purchased online.

Visit MyLehigh for information about other telecast parties.

There’s also a new twist on the 56-year-old Turkey Trot tradition: the addition of a roughly one mile run on the lower half of campus, which will join the more grueling 2.6 mile Turkey Trot up South Mountain and back. The race starts in front of Packer Chapel at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 18. The less challenging run was added to offer more members of the Lehigh community the opportunity to participate in the popular event, which typically draws up to 500 people.

Those interested can register at the Intramural Office, located in Lower Grace Hall, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

Other Spirit Week activities include:

• The annual Lehigh-Lafayette Olympics, organized by the Association of International Students on Saturday, Nov. 13. For more information, please contact the office at inais@lehigh.edu.
  
• A full roster of sporting events, which include a men’s basketball game against Wagner at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 15, in Stabler Arena; a wrestling match against Michigan at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 19 in Stabler; and a women’s basketball game against Princeton at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 21 in Stabler Arena. And, on the club level, the Lehigh and Lafayette ice hockey teams face off at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 19, at Steel Ice at 320 East First Street on Bethlehem’s South Side.
  
• A Claws vs. Paws competition between Lehigh students and Lafayette students from noon to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 16 on the UC lawn.
  
• A house decorating contest on Thursday, Nov. 18. Judging of the houses begins at noon, and the winners will be announced at Lehigh-Laf-A-Palooza later that day. Questions can be directed to class11@lehigh.edu
  
• The Lehigh-Laf-A-Palooza pep rally, which will take place on Thursday, Nov. 18, in the Rauch Business Center courtyard. This year’s featured performers are The Cataracs, an indie-pop duo that mixes rap, pop and other musical genres. The Lehigh football team, the Marching 97, the step team, and the dance team also will participate.
  
• The Marching 97 will perform across campus on the morning of Friday, Nov. 19.
  
• The Beat Lafayette Luncheon at noon, Friday, Nov. 19, in the Asa Packer Dining Room. Cost is $25. Lehigh coaches, senior players, and parents of seniors attend and alumni who have attended 50 or more Lehigh-Lafayette games are recognized. Go to MyLehigh to register.
  
  
• Bed races that begin at 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 19, on Library Drive