Although ASU's Tempe campus is peaceful these days, there have been some memorable moments over the past 50 years since Proposition 200 led to the establishment of Arizona State University. In the 1970s, Old Main was the site of Vietnam War protests.

The 2008 ASU Homecoming celebration will be one of the most memorable in the university’s history, as it celebrates the university’s 50th anniversary with an exciting football game between ASU and Washington State at Sun Devil Stadium Nov. 15.

The celebration will offer attendees the opportunity to reconnect with the university’s past and look forward to its future – and children will get a chance to see that a college campus can be one of the best places to have fun and learn at the same time.

Aside from the football game, the week of Nov. 7-15 offers the community dozens of activities designed to entertain and educate current, future and visiting Sun Devils. Among the most popular events are the Homecoming Parade and the Block Party, an event that transforms the university Alumni Lawn and the surrounding area along University Drive into one of the biggest celebrations of the year. It attracts thousands of visitors to ASU’s Tempe campus each year.

Among the many activities available during the Block Party are animal and insect exhibits, plus other interactive and educational activities for children, where they can expand their knowledge in areas such as sustainability, physics, English, art and science.
Collin Smith, an ASU student of design, is eager to work with the children at the Block Party. This year, Smith and other design students will conduct a product design competition using recyclable materials such as water bottles and cardboard. The participants then will create furniture, buildings, clothing and other products using the materials available to them.

“Interaction is a great way to learn, as it allows students to apply  their knowledge and teaches kids to see recyclable materials in different ways,” Smith says. “Projects like this make learning fun, and teach future generations about commitment to the environment and sustainability while reminding designers of their responsibility to educate society.”

“The Block Party is a great opportunity for children and parents to discover the different options that ASU has to offer,” adds Lambert Yazzie, senior coordinator for Club ASU. “The event also is a great opportunity for parents to get involved in their children’s education and learn about different programs available for the children in the summer or other times of the year.”

To find more information about Homecoming, the Block Party, and other children’s activities at the events, visit the Homecoming Web site www.asu.edu/studentaffairs/ASASU/homecoming/index.html.