Memorial University will award multiple $1,000 prizes, cheer its varsity athletes with its “tailgates” down, sail on the Titanic, nosh on global cuisine and rant its face off à la Rick Mercer at this year’s spirit week, MUNdays. 

MUNdays 2012 runs from Oct. 18-23 in St. John’s and Oct. 16-20 in Corner Brook.

Celebrations take place under the banner I Love MUNdays on the St. John’s campus, I Fell For Grenfell at Grenfell Campus in Corner Brook and I Love MI MUNdays at the Marine Institute in St. Johns.

MUNdays highlights the diversity, ingenuity, excellence, kindness and community spirit that set Memorial apart from all other post-secondary institutions.

A full itinerary of events and activities are planned, encouraging students, staff, faculty and alumni to come together and celebrate spirit at Memorial. And for the members of the university community who find it a bit tricky taking time out from work or class to participate, there’s a ton of weekend activities in store that you can enjoy!

St. John’s campus

The six-day schedule of fun kicks off in St. John’s on Thursday, Oct. 18, at 8 a.m. with the scrumptious Pancake Breakfast at 8 a.m. at the Main Dining Hall. Yum . . .  pancakes . . . What? They’re free pancakes? Even more yum! Don’t forget to bring along a non-perishable food item or donation for the campus food bank, though.

After the pancake feast, the Official Launch of I ♥ MUNdays happens at 9:15 a.m., followed by the Spirit Parade at 9:30 a.m.  Join in this boisterous march around campus and wave a flag, sing a song, represent your house, club, society or faculty . . . or just show some spirit, loudly! To sweeten the deal, $1,000 goes to the most spirited group! Don’t forget to register for the Pancake Breakfast and Spirit Parade at www.mun.ca/mundays/register.

At 1:30 p.m. in EN-1054, “Get Social” with Prof. Lyle Wetsch. When it comes to all things social media, Prof. Wetsch is way, way ahead of the curve. If you want to get up to date on the latest Facebook, HootSuite, Google+ or Pinterest developments, he’s your guy.

As well, Spirit Award challenges will take place all week long. Teams will take collect clues and compete in challenges from Oct. 17-22. Most spirited team wins $1,000! Don’t forget to register at www.mun.ca/mundays/register!

On Friday, Oct. 19, it’s all about the love. Kindness Friday lasts all day long! Bring in non-perishable food items from home to help Fill the Square in front of Hatcher House at Paton College. This year, bring in as many items as you like. Members of Facilities Management will fill their trucks with whatever your class, department or office collects for the cause. Don't forget to register at www.mun.ca/mundays/register/. Here are the drop off points and pick up times for the St. John's campus:

All day: Hatcher House
7:45-9:15 a.m.: Corte Real (across from the Child Care Centre) and Campus Food Bank
1 p.m.: Arts and Administration, main building loading bay, by Mail Room 
1:20 p.m.: Faculty of Medicine, south loading bay, next to Animal Care and Nursing
1:50 p.m.: Engineering building, east loading bay, across from Business building
2:20 p.m.: QEII Library, west loading bay, across from Education building
2:40 p.m.: Henrietta Harvey, upper part of Lot 15, facing Elizabeth Avenue
3 p.m.: Science building, Area 6 loading bay, under the arch

If you’re tired from all the kindness, drop into the University Centre (UC) food court for the All Day UC Lounge.  Relax, kick back in one of the comfy couches and enjoy some live tunes by local DJs and, who knows, you might even win a prize.

And it’s finally here! You pulled countless all nighters and drank vats of caffeine. Now it’s time to stride across the stage and shake the chancellor’s hand. To all those students receiving their degrees at convocation today, congratulations! Sessions begin at 10 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and take place at the Arts and Culture Centre.

At 8 p.m. switch the cap and gown for some cool threads and head over to the Breezeway to party it up one last time on campus at the Graduation Concert. Hosted by the Memorial University Students’ Union.

Starting at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 20, get out and do your heart good -- while making somebody else’s day. Community Service Learning Day is a chance to give back to the world, and you’ve got options. Why not serve up a hot lunch to the folks in our community who don’t have a home to call their own? Bet it puts a smile on a lot of faces. The Street Reach Community Lunch is just an opportunity. You can also be kind to Mother Earth by taking part in a cleanup at Topsail Beach. The Marine Institute Ocean Net team will not be stopped in their crusade to keep our coastlines garbage free. Lastly, the SPCA always needs an extra hand when it comes to caring for our community’s creatures. Inspired? Don’t forget to pre-register at www.mun.ca/mundays/register/ to ensure you get a spot! If not, help out wherever you like: collect clothes for a women’s shelter, plant seedlings in a local waste space, play a few hands of cards at a senior’s home. The sky’s the limit.

At 12 p.m., do it up American-style with the first pre-game Sea-Hawks Tailgate Party at King George V field at Quidi Vidi! No pickup truck? No problem – shuttle buses will be provided to transport you from R. Gushue Hall to the field. Then, a barbecue, live band – Celtic folk rockers the Rolling Kings! – prizes and more will get you primed for the main event: men’s and women’s Sea-Hawks soccer teams taking on St. Francis of Xavier for some serious field action. Don’t forget to wear red and white!

And that’s not all: at half-time the hugely popular Out Move Sammy competition goes down. Can Sammy the Sea-Hawk shake his tail feathers hard enough to out move and out groove all the challenging residence mascot contenders? Don’t miss it! Winner takes $1,000!

On Sunday, Oct. 21, get your heart (and everything else) pumping by taking part in the 5K MUN Run at 8 a.m. Pin a number to your back, join the throngs of early rising health enthusiasts and enjoy the runner’s high for five kilometres around the St. John’s campus.

After you start the day off right, take it easy and enjoy the show at King George V at Quidi Vidi. At 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., the Sea-Hawks’ battle it out in another double-header against St. Francis of Xavier. Go Sea-Hawks! Go Red!

On Monday, Oct. 22, it’ll be a job to pack in all the fun up for grabs. First, wear your pride with some MUN-branded clothing. It’s MUNday, all day! Don’t have a hoodie with a MUN logo? Good news: the MUN Bookstore is offering a 20 per cent discount during the entire MUNdays celebrations. So go ahead, nab yourself something new and spirit-friendly.

From 12-3 p.m., everyone’s favourite culinary event is on at The Landing in the University Centre. Feast on some of the most delicious fare from around the globe at the International Bazaar. It’s a marketplace of world music, tastes, sights and sounds. Don’t forget your Tupperware for take out!

Then at 3:30 p.m., don’t miss the Rant Like Rick Contest -- a MUNdays classic. Watch as one Memorial student is crowned this year’s rant champ and receives a cool $1,000 for their best rant. The rant off goes down in The Breezeway.

And yet another $1,000 is at stake at this year’s Outside the Box Challenge, where teams compete in a series of mind-boggling puzzles in order to claim the title of most ingenious group on campus. It happens at 7 p.m. in the Phys. Ed. gym. Don't forget to register at www.mun.ca/mundays/register/!

On Tuesday, Oct. 25, the university-wide Health Challenge is on. Come to the Field House from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. and put in a few laps around the track. Last year’s combined total by students, staff and faculty was 774 kilometres – this year, let’s break 1,000! For inspiration, a variety of activities and demonstrations will be taking place in the centre of the track.

Tuesday is also I <3 Touque Day! Once again this year, Distance Education, Learning and Teaching Support (DELTS) will collect hats, mitts, scarves and other winter items for those who need a little extra help staying warm this winter. Bring whatever you can spare to ED-1033 or ED-2000 and they’ll send you off with a cozy Memorial@Home touque for yourself.

Sadly, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., I ♥ MUNdays will come to an official close. Don’t fret, though -- there’s still time to do your heart good! The Closing Barbecue outside the QEII Library will provide a tasty way to say goodbye to the 2012 celebrations. We’ll also find out who are the winners of this year’s Spirit Award and its $1,000 prize.

Grenfell Campus

In Corner Brook, Tuesday, Oct. 16, I Fell for Grenfell kicks off with a Pancake Breakfast from 8-10 a.m. at the GCSU food court. Fall out of bed and eat your fill!

After breakfast, the Official Launch gets underway at 11:30 a.m. at the GCSU food court. Burn off the sugary syrup high during the Parade of Flags at 11:40 a.m.

Then, start watching your back because Gotcha! begins at 12:30 p.m. The aim of this week-long challenge is for players to track down and eliminate their opponents until only one player remains. Winner gets a student season pass for Marble Mountain! Register for Gotcha! before 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 12. The game begins at 12:30 p.m. on Oct. 16. The winner gets a $100 gift card to the store of their choosing! *Some conditions will apply.

Next up is Rant Like Rick, Grenfell-style. The GCSU food court is the location and 12:30 p.m. is the time to rant your way to the finals on the St. John’s campus. Top ranter flies to the capital city to compete for $1,000.

On Wednesday, Oct. 17, the Western Regional School of Nursing encourages healthy bodies and healthy minds at the Health Fair from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the GCSU food court in the Arts and Science building.

Then, at 3:30 p.m., join the crowd at the GCSU food court and back lawn of the Arts and Science building for the brisk Campus Dash and Obstacle Course. Make sure to work up an appetite for the Free Barbecue afterward!

On Thursday, Oct. 18, the fun continues. From 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., practise your aim and raise money for charity at Pie the Prof at the GCSU food court at the Arts and Science building.

And all day it's the Campus Cleanup! Be green and help support Grenfell's commitment to environmental sustainability.

Also on Thursday, learn about studying abroad in Korea, Japan and Beyond from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. in the GCSU food court.

And from 8-10 p.m. at the Grenfell Campus pool, it's Build a Battleship! Whose battleship will be the most seaworthy? 

On Friday, Oct. 19, it’s We <3 Our Students Day. Drop by between 1-3 p.m. at the GCSU food court for pizza, pop and tunes.

From 1-3 p.m., it's Creatures from the Deep. Come to the GCSU food court and check out the cool creatures in the touch tank. Allison Eaton from the Bonne Bay Marine Station will have tons of sea life on display.

Also on Friday, learn about studying abroad in Korea, Japan and Beyond from 1-3 p.m. in the GCSU food court. 

On Saturday, Oct. 20, there’s something for everybody. The whole community is invited to this public event! From 1:30-3 p.m. in the gymnasium of the Arts and Science building, bring teddy to the Teddy Bear Clinic to get his boo-boo fixed up by the good folks at the Western Regional School of Nursing.

Also from 1:30-3 p.m. in the gymnasium, while the teddies are getting their checkups, try out an Art Session and celebrate fall with inspired art. Everyone’s invited!

Next up from 3:30-4:30 p.m., join in the fun at the Pepsi Centre for a Family Skate. Bring Teddy, too – you can help him up after he falls for Grenfell.

And if you’re still not tuckered out, take a dip at the Grenfell Campus pool for the Family Splash from 4-5 p.m.

Then, celebrate the different nationalities and cultures that make up Grenfell’s diverse community at International Night. It’s the closing event for I Fell for Grenfell, so be sure to head to the GCSU food court from 6-8 p.m. Don’t miss out!

Marine Institute

I Love MI MUNdays kick off on Thursday, Oct. 18, with a free breakfast at the Breakfast Bazaar from 8-10 a.m. in the cafeteria.

Another part of this year’s celebrations are theme days, and what goes good with breakfast? That’s right, pajamas! So sleep in a few extra minutes and head right to the breakfast in your jammies (extra points for silly slippers).

On Friday, Oct. 19, it’s Kindness Friday all day as well as Superhero Day. Don your cape and some spandex and save the day by doing something nice for a friend, a stranger, whoever! Join in the food drive and deliver the non-perishable food items to the St. John’s campus to help Fill the Square at Paton College, or spread kindness however you deem fit. You can also bring in winter coats, mitts and hats to keep folks warm during the cold months. All donated items will be collected by the School of Social Work.

Then at 12 p.m., swoop out to the MI lobby for the Minute to Win It challenge. Play our deceptively difficult 60 second challenges featuring household objects for a shot at a MI prize pack. Hosted by Memorial’s Sea-Hawks varsity athletes and mascot Sammy the Sea-Hawk.

And at 1 p.m. it’s Rant Like Rick – the MI Episode, where your loud opinions might win big. Come to Hampton Hall prepared to rant on camera; the winner will compete in the finals on the St. John’s campus for a shot at a $1,000 top prize.

On Saturday, Oct. 20, join in with volunteers from the St. John’s campus and take part in special projects for Community Service Learning Day in I Love MUNdays. Then at 12 p.m., there’s a shuttle ride from R. Gushue Hall on the St. John’s campus to the King George V soccer pitch to take in the pre-game Sea-Hawks Tailgate Party (barbecue, Celtic folk rockers the Rolling Kings, prizes!) in anticipation of the soccer double-header against St. Francis of Xavier.

Plus, the ever boisterous Out Move Sammy competition will go down at the two half-times. Can Sammy the Sea-Hawk shake his tail feathers hard enough to out move and out groove all the challenging residence mascot contenders? Don’t miss it! Winner takes $1,000!

On Sunday, Oct. 21, join the Memorial University community in the 5K MUN Run. Take a burn around the St. John’s campus with a crowd of early rising health enthusiasts at 8 a.m.

Then at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., the Sea-Hawks’ battle it out in another double-header against St. Francis of Xavier. Go Sea-Hawks! Go Red!

Monday, Oct. 22, is MI Day. Wear your MI pride and show off your MI swag. Don’t have any MI clothing? No problem, the MI Bookstore is offering a 10 per cent discount on all MI branded clothing from Oct. 18-23.

Throughout the day, Diversity Day, Experience the Challenge and a Lunch and Learn will provide for some eye-opening and stimulating activities. All three events take place between 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Hampton Hall.

On Tuesday, Oct. 23, the theme of the day is Sports Day. Wear your favourite team’s colours or jersey for a little friendly rivalry.

From 10-12 a.m., experience Calm Air: The Titanic’s Maiden Voyage at MI’s Centre for Marine Simulation. Take in the full sensory interpretation of the Titanic’s voyage. Theatrical talent from the Arts and Culture Centre will lead a dramatic re-enactment of the event, while the full mission ship’s bridge simulator will provide a 360-degree visual and full motion experience.

After your journey out to sea, head over to the MI Cafeteria at 12 p.m. to fill up on some great tasting hots and hams! Everyone is invited to a free Barbecue Lunch. It’ll be extra special due to the Random Acts of Music taking place while you dine. If you’re feeling a little full afterwards, burn it off at the Fitness Challenge: Zumba with Kathleen from The Works! Takes place at in the MI gym at 1 p.m.

Happy MUNdays, everyone!

For more information and to register for events, including the week-long Spirit Award on the St. John’s campus, please visit www.mun.ca/mundays/ for events in St. John’s, www.swgc.mun.ca/celebrate/ for events at Grenfell Campus and www.mi.mun.ca/mimundays/ for events on the Marine Institute campus.