Daily Pioneer News

PLATTEVILLE - Homecoming is about coming together as one college community in spirit and support of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. This year two popular engineering organizations, Theta Tau and the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), will be joining forces to compete in Homecoming activities under the pseudonym ELLIOT. The organizations came up with the name from the inspirational child of the 1980s hit movie "ET." ELLIOT stands for Engineers Live Life in Otts Together.

"It's nice to get out and be involved in Homecoming. It's also nice that SWE has partnered with us, because without their help, we rarely have enough females to participate in activities. The partnership we formed with them allows us to participate in a wider variety of events," said Brian Trumpy, a Theta Tau member.

Theta Tau, a professional engineering coed fraternity, was extended an invitation by SWE to work together for Homecoming. In return, Theta Tau extended an offer to SWE to help in the "lighting of the M" ceremony.

Added Trumpy, "It's cool that the women of SWE are interested in helping light the 'M.' It's an awesome tradition that we are responsible for. For the Platteville community the lighting of the 'M' is always a highlight."

Continued Dominique Detloff, Theta Tau member, "We are the keepers of the 'M.' We light the 'M' on fire only twice a year, once for Homecoming and once for M-Ball in the spring. SWE is an organization that is truly filled with talented women and it has been a blast working with them for Homecoming. The women are so willing to work and have shown so much enthusiasm when asked to help light the 'M.' "

Theta Tau is also responsible for keeping the "M" fresh and clean looking and do so by whitewashing it once a year in the spring. SWE is a national organization that works to expand and promote the effectiveness and acceptance of women in the engineering workplace. Their objectives include encouraging women to achieve full potential in careers as engineers and leaders and to expand the image of the engineering profession in a positive manner.

Contact: Dominique Detloff, Theta Tau, (608) 348-4456, detloffd@uwplatt.edu

Prepared by: Rachael Lehr, Public Relations, (608) 342-1194, lehrr@uwplatt.edu