The Bears Come Home

Not only will Bear alumni come home to celebrate this year, but Baylor's live bear mascots, Joy and Lady, also have come home. The Bill and Eva Williams Bear Habitat Dedication will be at 2 p.m. Oct. 28. Groundbreaking on the renovation of the bears' current habitat along Waco Creek took place Feb. 4. The new facility includes additional square footage, natural terracing and landscaping, a waterfall and several enrichment activities for the bears.

Besides welcoming the bears back to campus, Homecoming promises to be fun for all ages, said Ian Gibson, Baylor Chamber of Commerce 2005 Homecoming chair. "We really want everyone to take a part in Homecoming -- the alumni, the freshmen, the students, the families."

Many of the events will be moved to the Ferrell Center grounds to accommodate larger crowds, he said. "We want the bonfire and the shows to be bigger, and we'll create a 'fairgrounds atmosphere' at the Ferrell Center," he said, with live music, reunion tents and inflatable rides for children.

Also this year, the Baylor Chamber and Baylor Alumni Association have combined their Web sites to offer a "one-stop location," he said. All tickets and other Homecoming memorabilia can be purchased through www.baylor.edu/homecoming.