January 21st brings about DePaul’s annual homecoming dance, featuring a theme suitable for all you valley girls and lost boys: DPU Hearts the 80’s. The occasion will be held at the Drake Hotel, located in the heart of the Gold Coast on the Magnificent Mile. DePaul students seem to be pleased with the venue selection — Eleanore Catolico, a junior digital cinema major, says “The Drake is a great choice for homecoming this year. It’s such a beautiful and classy place for events.”

Previous DePaul homecomings have been held at equally grandiose venues, such as Union Station’s Great Hall and Navy Pier’s Crystal Gardens.

David Roth, this year’s homecoming coordinator, says of the venue, “The Drake is such a historic place. I think it’s going to be a cool switch from the venues that we have been using in the past, and the ’80s theme is going to be ridiculous, but in a good way!”

The DePaul Activities Board (DAB) encourages us all through their Facebook page to “Pull out those leg warmers and dust off that Swatch, ’cause DPU Hearts the 80s! . Get ready for a totally awesome extravaganza that you’ll never forget.”

Roth says “’80s is the theme, and it is a semi-formal event. You’re welcome to dress as you have in the past, but of course dressing in ’80s wear is totally acceptable. We will be giving away prizes for best dressed males and females according to theme, and the prize is a good one.”

Junior public relations and advertising major Anita Mijic has attended homecoming for the past two years, and she plans on continuing the tradition this January. “This is a great opportunity for me to dress up and spend a fun night with friends,” says Mijic. “I’ve had fun in the past at DePaul’s homecoming dances and hopefully this year will be even better than the last.”

Roth says, “We’ll have a DJ all night long, and DAB will be dropping hints through the Facebook page as to who the special guest performer will be. The official announcement will be made on Tuesday evening. We think it’s going to be something different and unexpected, it’s kind of my personal twist on homecoming.”

In these years past, students have been able to forego their usual CTA transportation route to instead catch a more luxurious, yet still free, ride to the location of the dance in the form of trolleys or charter buses that DAB secured for the night. This year from 7:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., buses will be transporting students from Belden-Racine Hall in Lincoln Park to The Drake Hotel. They will also be available to give students a ride back to Lincoln Park from The Drake with the last bus leaving the hotel at midnight.

Tickets for the evening are currently on sale from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. in both the Loop and Lincoln Park student centers from now until the day of the dance, Jan. 21. The cost is $15 with a student ID. Limit two per ID.

Additionally, Saturday, Jan. 22 will bring about the women’s and men’s Blue Demons’ homecoming basketball games. The men’s team will be playing Pittsburgh, 3:00 p.m. at Allstate Arena and the women’s team will be playing Seton Hall, 7:00 p.m. at McGrath Arena.

The weekend of university pride will provide students with a change in pace from their normal routines, with the opportunity to attend the annual dance described by DAB as “an elegant evening of dancing, food, and fun”, and then, the excitement of two spirit-filled games on the following afternoon.

Eric Bose, a sophomore public relations major, says “Homecoming 2011 will be a great time, I’m definitely looking forward to it.”

For more information on DePaul’s homecoming festivities, visit either DAB’s website , or DePaul athletics.