After an exciting first day of class, what better way to celebrate than with the Milwaukee Brewers and UWM? Hosted by the Neighborhood Housing Office and COAST Leaders, the Brewers Tailgate Party will be held in the Union Rec Center on Wednesday night starting at 6:30 P.M. Coming off a hot streak against the Pittsburgh Pirates, join fellow UWM students watch the Brew Crew fight for the wildcard playoff spot against the St. Louis Cardinals. Meet Brewers fans, enjoy free “tailgate” food and drink, and more! The party starts at 6:30 P.M.; don’t forget your Brewers cap!

Brewers Tailgate Party w/ the Neighborhood Housing Office, COAST Leaders, and the Union Rec Center.
Wednesday, September 2nd, 6:30 P.M. – 9:30 P.M.
Union Rec Center (basement of Student Union, next to the Gasthaus)
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=124488929644

The calm days of summer at UWM have ended. The Sandburg dorms have been booming with incoming freshman moving in, leases for apartments around campus have started, and everyone is getting back into the swing of things for the upcoming Fall semester. BUT with all of the book buying, dorm decorating, and class searching you’ve been doing, I’m sure a few of you are ready for a little fun this weekend. That’s where we come in! We with the Campus KickOff team have set up all kinds of events and activities for all UWM students to attend! Here are a few highlights this weekend:

Friday, August 29th
UWM Volleyball Tournament – 11 A.M. Klotsche Center
If you’ve got a team, we’ve got a court. The UWM Intramural leagues are hosting the first volleyball tournament this weekend during Campus KickOff! Head over to the Klotsche Center starting at 11 a.m. and either bring your team, or a group of friends to watch! If anyone watched the Olympics this month, you know volleyball is an exciting spectator sport.

Disc Golf – 12 P.M. Klotsche Center
This isn’t a game of frisbee with your grandpa. The UWM Klotsche Center has a full-blown disc golf course that even professional players would admire. Join the intramural fun outside of Klotsche center starting at noon!

Bingo – 7:30 P.M. Sandburg
B-4? How about I-13? Anybody? Should I call another number? Anyways, Bingo will be happening at the Dorms this Friday night! If you’ve already moved in, take a break from unpacking and grab a bingo card to win some great prizes! I hear there’s free food and drinks at this event too, so if you’re hungry, you don’t want to miss this!

Saturday, August 30th
Fun Run – 10 A.M. Klotsche Center
Choose from a 1 or 2 mile run this morning with other UWM students during Campus KickOff. Put on your running shoes, and feel free to take a tour of UWM’s massive sports and exercise facility when you’re finished.

UWM Volleyball Tournament – 11 A.M. Klotsche Center
The fun continues into Saturday. Congratulations to the teams who’ve made it into the final rounds, and make sure you don’t miss the exciting matches as we decide UWM’s first intramural volleyball champion!

Tie Dye – 1 P.M. Craft Centre
Head over to the Union for some relaxing tie dye activities in the Craft Centre. If you bring the clothes, we’ll bring the dye. Don’t know how? We’ve got experts on the scene that will help turn your old white T into a psychedelic flurry of colors! Stand out from the crowd this fall with your UWM tie dyes!

Dance and Step Class – 8 P.M. Sandburg
Show me your 1-2 step! Join all of the Sandburg residents and other UWM students as we teach you the basics. Bring a friend or two for dance partners, and prepare for a fun night workout.

Sunday, August 31st
Bike Adventure – 2 P.M. Adventure Center
Bring your Huffy and join other UWM students as we take a nice afternoon cruise throughout the UWM Adventure Center’s trails. Learn the routes, meet new friends, and get a nice workout in on Sunday with the Bike Adventure!

Self-Defense Class – 8 P.M. Sandburg
The UWM campus is one of the safest in Wisconsin, but it’s always a good idea to gain some self-awareness and learn some defense techniques in case you’re ever in a pickle. Plus, it’s a lot of fun, and a great way to meet new people! Join our professional instructors as we teach you some simple grabs, holds, and other moves that will keep you in control and gain self-confidence.
Among these highlights are several other events happening this weekend, so don’t forget to check out the Campus KickOff calender for a complete list. I’ll see you out and about in the next few days, so have a blast, and welcome to UWM!

The rumors have been wild; who will be PANTHERFEST’s rock performer? I’ve heard almost every band from A to Z dropped, and while some were way off (Led Zeppelin is long gone, folks), a few of you were spot-on. Before we give it away, let me give you some hints:

From Orange County, CA, this band’s 2005 debut was a hit on the Billboard Heatseeker charts all summer long. Originally a side-project from Something Corporate’s lead singer, PANTHERFEST’s performer took inspiration from The Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds, and displays an eclectic mix of genres ranging from electro pop to piano rock. Their debut album included contributions from Patrick Warren (who’s worked with Fiona Apple and Macy Gray) and Motley Crue’s Tommy Lee. In addition, the group’s second album is set for release this September, so PANTHERFEST attendees will be sure to hear some of their new songs!

Are your things packed? Are you good to go? Then stay tuned to the Campus KickOff blog, for the revealing of this year’s PANTHERFEST performers!

While there are dozens of events going on throughout UWM Campus KickOff, some of the best moments might be on the silver screen. We’re offering seven flicks for yours and your fellow Panthers viewing pleasure. What’s better than a movie night?

Take a chance to kick back, relax with friends, and see some of the best films of 2007 (and a few other classics!) in the Union Theatre, all during UWM Campus KickOff. Best part? They’re FREE!!

Here’s a rundown of the chosen seven:

No Country for Old Men (2007)
Rated R – 122 Min.
Make sure you don’t miss this Academy Award-winning movie that is part-western, part-drug crime, and all awesome. Tommy Lee Jones stars as Sherriff Bell, a tough country cop that is in over his head when drug runner Anton Chigurh (an Oscar-winning role played by Javier Bardem) starts a killing spree in pursuit of his missing money. The film takes you to the end of Texas and back, with shootouts that never stop, killers that never quit, and an ending that will keep you guessing.
Wednesday, 8/27 – 7:00 P.M. Union Theatre

There Will Be Blood (2007)
Rated R – 158 Min.
Considered by many as the best film in the past year, There Will Be Blood stars Daniel Day-Lewis as the chilling Daniel Plainview, a self-proclaimed Oil Man in the 1890s looking to overtake a small California family ranch in pursuit of the oil beneath it. While business deals are made, local pastor Eli Sunday has his own plans on how to profit from his property. The film shows the tough business model of the early-1900s, and Plainview blurs the line between tycoon and maniac. It’s a must-see for anyone interested in early America, or if you’re just out for a bloody good time.
Thursday, 8/28 – 7:00 P.M. Union Theatre

The Big Lebowski (1998)
Rated R – 117 Min.
One of my favorites! Jeff Bridges plays The Dude, a Los Angeles slacker who takes life the easy way. But his free-riding lifestyle takes a wicked turn when a group of crooks mistakenly break into his house and ruin his favorite rug. In attempts to track down these crooks, The Dude rounds up his bowling team for help, who do nothing but trip the poor Dude into one problem after another. This cult classic is a hilarious, mind-bending movie that certainly isn’t for kids (the “f-bomb” is dropped 260 times throughout the movie). But if you can stomach the twisted ride, you’re in for one heck of a night. I’ll be in attendance for sure.
Friday, 8/29 – 7:00 P.M. Union Rec Center (special bowling, prizes, and movie night!)
Sunday, 8/31 – 9:00 P.M. Union Theatre

Persepolis (2007)
Rated PG-13 – 95 Min.
Based on the French graphic novel, Persepolis takes you into the life of 10-year old Marjane Stratapi during the 1979 Iranian Revolution. With her city now ruled by Islamic fundamentalists, Marji’s family send her abroad to nearby Vienna for a shot at a better life. She then begins to struggle with both the new lifestyles of Vienna, and her changing native homeland. The black and white animation of Persepolis is beautiful, and the story is both cute and emotionally intense. Take a night off to witness the French take on silver screen animation.
Friday, 8/29 – 7:00 P.M. Union Theatre
Saturday, 8/30 – 7:00 P.M. Union Theatre

Lost in Translation (2003)
Rated R – 102 Min.
Bill Murray is Bob Harris, an aging movie star shooting his first commercial in Tokyo. Amongst the typical madness of Japan’s biggest city, he meets Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson), a young newlywed who is stranded in the city while her husband travels for photography shoots. The two decide to explore the city together, and develop emotions for each other while discussing the differences in American and Japanese culture. It’s a romantic comedy about culture shock, interpretation, and what love really means.
Saturday, 8/30 – 9:00 P.M. Union Theatre

Smiley Face (2007)
Rated R – 88 Min.
This under-the-radar pot comedy stars Anna Farris as Jane, a young actress who inadvertently eats her roommate’s pot-laced muffins while bored in her apartment. Without realizing their composition, she eats the entire batch, and then has to face the rest of her day under the influence. She gets herself into a few misadventures, gets thrown out of a sausage factory, and ends up failing an audition. I’ve heard Smiley Face is pretty hilarious, and I’m very interested in checking this movie out during Campus KickOff!
Sunday, 8/31 – 7:00 P.M. Union Theatre
Tuesday, 9/02 – 7:00 P.M. Union Theatre

Be Kind Rewind (2008)
Rated PG-13 – 102 Min.
From the director of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and The Science of Sleep comes a comedy starring Mos Def as Mike, a video store clerks that face a dilemma when friend Jerry (Jack Black) accidentally erases every tape in the store. They decide the best way to cover up his mistake is to film their own versions of the movies on the erased tapes! Business begins to boom, as their “sweded” versions of movies (Mike tells customers the new tapes are Swedish versions) go into high demand. This is a fun little movie, and I loved seeing how they tried to make their own versions of movies like Ghostbusters and Rush Hour. If you’re up for a laugh, this is a must-see!
Wednesday, 9/3 – 7:00 P.M. Union Theatre
Thursday, 9/4 – 7:00 P.M. Union Theatre

With so many great movies playing, it’s so hard to choose which ones to see! But thankfully, many of them have multiple showings, so try to take some time out to catch a flick in the Union Theatre! Grab a free bag of popcorn, a few friends, and prepare to have fun at every screening. I’ll be in attendance for many of them, so I’ll try to save you a seat.