Students invited to pre-game pancake party

The Wisconsin Alumni Association and University Housing will host a Paul Bunyan Pre-Game Pancake Party for students Saturday, Nov. 4, at the Stock Pavilion.

Set to begin at 8:30 a.m., about two and one-half hours before the Wisconsin vs. Minnesota football game, the event celebrates the long-time competition between the Badgers and the Golden Gophers. According to tradition, the team who wins the game also wins the title to Paul Bunyan’s ax for the remainder of the year.

“The Paul Bunyan theme – complete with a lumberjack-style pancake breakfast – sounded like a fun way to foster a little friendly competition,” says Paula Bonner, executive director of the Wisconsin Alumni Association. “We’re thrilled about this opportunity to provide our students a safe, healthy way to celebrate before the game.”

Partners on the UW campus include the Wisconsin Alumni Association, University Housing, University Publications, the UW Athletic Department, the Office of the Provost and the RWJ Project.

The partners have organized the breakfast as an alcohol-free event for students.

“For many in our campus community, football Saturdays have become associated with drinking – no matter what time game time is scheduled. We saw this as an opportunity to offer them an alternative type of tailgating activity that is just as fun,” says Sudi Ceglarek from the RWJ Project.

The Pre-Game Party will culminate with a Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox look-alike contest. A panel of local celebrities will judge which student in costume will win a trip for two to see the Badgers play in Oregon in 2001, courtesy of the Wisconsin Alumni Association.

The Wisconsin Alumni Association has been serving UW–Madison and its graduates for 140 years. WAA provides an array of services, including On Wisconsin, a quarterly alumni magazine; a national council to foster multicultural diversity; a career database program, and an extensive student relations program.