It’s been a wild few weeks on campus as politics and the upcoming mid-term election taking front seat. The madness peaked yesterday as the second of the Delaware Debates took place in Mitchell Hall. Delaware Senate candidates Chris Coons (D) and Christine O’Donnell (R) took to the stage and their fans took to the streets.

In addition CNN came to broadcast from campus. Wolf Blitzer hosted his show, The Situation Room, just outside Smith Hall and then he co-hosted the debate. This morning Kirin Chetry of American Morning set up outside Mitchell Hall on South College Avenue and provided live post-debate coverage.

Check out the photos below, loyal readers. Needless to say, it’s been a wild few days.

The Philadelphia Eagles just lost a game to a guy they traded away and about zero people are enthusiastic about their season.

Knowing that, one would surmise that the two programs are about as far apart as you get. Yet there is a connection.

A University of Delaware bus purchased and redesigned by Mike Quirk and his brother, alumnus Marty Quirk ’79, is now a genuine Eagles mobile. Equipped with a bathroom, seating for a dozen, leather couches and television, this tailgating vehicle is made from mostly recycled/second-hand materials.

Get Inside a Recycled Eagles Bus [nbcphiladelphia.com]

With the beginning of the fall semester, UDaily reports “the Newark Police Department has announced that it will be enforcing laws pertaining to pedestrians and crosswalk safety, as well as vehicle driver rights and duties regarding pedestrians.”

To be frank, our complaints about jaywalkers are done with our tongues firmly in our cheeks because we’re just as guilty as the next Blue Hen when it comes to darting across Main Street, Delaware Ave, South College Ave, Academy Street, et al.

similar to Main St. & N. College Ave., no?

The UDaily article/warning continues to state that main areas of enforcement will include, “Delaware Avenue, Main Street, College Avenue, Cleveland Avenue and Elkton Road.”

Gah! They’re after us!!!

Stay vigilant, Blue Hens, and make sure to look both ways for cars, and all around you for police, when crossing the street!

Newark Police Department announces enforcement of pedestrian law [udel.edu/udaily]

President Harker told the freshman, “You’re a student today, but you’re a Blue Hen forever. You’re tied to this University and its people, and to all the virtual strangers sitting way too close to you right now.”

The students all received gold t-shirts which featured the University’s new slogan, Dare to be first. Harker commented that he hoped the Class of 2014 would dare to make the world a more innovative, more humane, more beautiful place to be.

After the ceremony, the students were treated to a meal just outside the Field House and all freshman were encouraged to sign their class banner. The banner, sponsored by the UD Alumni Association, will be displayed at class-specific events over the course of the next four years, in particular Commencement 2014. Check out the photos of the newest Blue Hens engaging in this newest UD tradition.

New Student Convocation Welcomes Class of 2014 [udel.edu/udaily]
Dare to be first [udel.edu/daretobefirst]
UD Alumni Association [UDconnection.com]

UD Dining Services has taken macaroni & cheese, added a 21st century twist and created Le Mac, an entire menu around variations on mac & cheese. Blue Hens now have a station that offers 10 wide-ranging variations of mac and cheese with all kinds of ingredients including several cheeses (pepper jack, cheddar, Monterey jack, fontina, bleu), spinach, mushrooms, tomatoes, grilled chicken, hot sauce, tuna, onion, red peppers and more.

While the UD Alumni Relations Blog is in awe of this major culinary achievement, we are frankly outraged that this was not available when we were in school. All we got was cheddar! For any student not to have these options in the dining hall is an ABSOLUTE TRAVESTY! AHHHHHHH!

(deep breaths)

Anyhoo – you can best believe this semester that we’ll be sneaking out of Alumni Hall and sneaking into Russell or Pencader Dining Halls to dominate Le Mac. When we do, we’ll make sure to bring you every mouthwatering bite.

UD Dining’s ‘Le Mac’ gains national recognition [udel.edu/udaily]

Yesterday marked the beginning the what the UD Alumni Relations Blog has dubbed The Return as early move-in kicked off. Check out the photos below and see for yourself. Pencader Dining Hall looked to be filling up and the Independence Turf (Pencader Dorms, RIP) hosted some bros playing sports.

• There’s little traffic on Cleveland Ave.
• Newark Bagel doesn’t have a permanent line out the door.
• Semi-suicidal jaywalkers don’t roam the street, jumping in front of your car.
• One need not dodge bikers riding on the sidewalk (when they shouldn’t be!).

That said, it’s great to see campus getting ready for the return of the kids. There’s an energy in air when Newark’s population increases by about 15,000 Blue Hens that is simply awesome.

With that in mind, check out the photos of the Rodney Residence Hall Complex – the dumpsters are a give away that this weekend marks the return of students. Stay tuned, loyal readers, more photos chronicling “The Return” will be posted throughout the next week.

The 272-acre (!) site was purchased for approximately $24 million in November 2009 and was possibly home to a zombie attack in the same year. UD has since announced plans to develop a new research and technology campus on the site to reshape the southern entrance to campus. The UD Alumni Relations Blog has put forth its own plans to develop the site – plans which include a giant skate park, several water slides, a polo ground with stables (see above) and, of course, a monorail. Sadly (for humanity), the University has not granted our proposal a formal hearing.

URS will be responsible for the decommissioning/cleaning of equipment, asbestos abatement, demolition of buildings and removal/recycling/disposal of all materials. Approximately 95 percent of the material from the site will be recycled and most of the work is expected to be complete in November 2011.

We will continue pressing our plan (polo ground, monorail, et al) and we would love to hear your thoughts, loyal reader. Drop them in the comments.

URS to decommission former Chrysler Plant for science, tech campus [udel.edu/udaily]
Simpsons – Monorail

That said, the UD Alumni Relations Blog thinks that it’s time to recognize the animal that truly rules campus – the mighty squirrel (dun dun dunnnnnnn). Squirrels basically own the University of Delaware and while we have chronicled it before, it is easy to forget.

Check out the photos below for evidence of their fearlessness as this squirrel did everything but kick us in the shins. Stay vigilant, Blue Hens, for any day now they will rise up and attack!

Stark and wife, Beth Brofee Stark '91

Stark, a Rhodes scholar and former Assistant U.S. Attorney, was nominated to the court earlier this year by President Barack Obama and even though the nomination faced no opposition, it took over a year for it to be approved.

Nonetheless, when we read the news we couldn’t help but get choked up as Stark is a model Blue Hen. In addition to having served as president of the UDAA, he was awarded the Outstanding Alumni Award in 2009 and is featured on UDconnection.com in an alumni spotlight (hard to top that!). So this weekend, the UD Alumni Relations Blog will surely raise a glass to Len Stark because he’s doing a great job representing (and representin’) Blue Hens around the world.

Delaware courts: Stark confirmed to district court [delawareonline.com]

Leonard Stark ’91, ’91M [UDconnection.com]