Purdue University Calumet celebrates Northwest Indiana’s rich basketball heritage with an array of campus activities Monday (12/8) through Saturday (12/13).
Lectures by sports historians about basketball in the region; a silent auction of painted basketballs; showings of the movie, “Hoosiers”; a pep rally; and Kids Day at Saturday’s (12/13) Purdue Calumet women’s-men’s doubleheader games against Holy Cross College comprise the “Hoosier Hoop Dreams” observance.
The activities, part of the university’s Building Community through the Arts cultural series, are offered in partnership with Purdue Calumet’s College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, Multicultural Campus Council and the Towle Theatre.
“Basketball has been an integral part of Indiana culture for many years,” Purdue Calumet Executive Director of Multidisciplinary Studies & Learning Outcomes and event coordinator Rebecca Stankowski said. “This event observes the importance of the sport, recognizes the impressive number of high school state championship teams across Northwest Indiana since 1940 and salutes the historical contributions by our own Purdue Calumet teams.”
The “Hoosier Hoop Dreams” schedule of activities is as follows:
Monday (12/8)
Noon – Unveiling of display of basketballs painted by local artists (Student Union & Library, 2nd floor display case);
1 p.m. – Presentation of the movie, “Hoosiers”—free popcorn (Student Union & Library, Calumet Falls).
Tuesday (12/9)
4 p.m. – Lecture, “Hoosier Mania: 100 Years of Indiana Basketball” by Northeastern Illinois University Professor Steve Reiss (Center for Innovation through Visualization and Simulation-- CIVS).
Wednesday (12/10)
6:30 p.m. – Presentation of the movie, “Hoosiers” (Classroom Office Building, Room 110).
Thursday (12/11)
11 a.m. – Pep Rally—free refreshments (Student Union & Library, Calumet Falls);
4 p.m. – Lecture, “Calumet Hoops: The National Influence on the Regional Game” by Purdue Calumet Associate Professor of History Joseph Bigott (Gyte Building, Room 107).
Saturday (12/13)
11 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Silent Auction of painted basketballs by local artists (Fitness & Recreation Center). Proceeds support the Chancellor’s Scholarship program;
1 p.m. to 5 p.m. – Kids Day at Purdue Calumet basketball games—bouncy house, face painting, Santa Claus, T-shirt giveaway, free food (Fitness & Recreation Center);
1 p.m. – Purdue Calumet women’s basketball game vs. Holy Cross
3 p.m. – Purdue Calumet men’s basketball game vs. Holy Cross