Murder mystery in air for Homecoming '96

The events that make up Homecoming are expected to bring thousands of guests and UBC alumni to campus to participate in class reunions, the Botanical Garden's annual Apple Festival, special lectures and a murder mystery at the Cecil Green mansion.

Several events, including the Apple Festival and a lecture by Prof. Stanley Coren, author of The Intelligence of Dogs and more recently Sleep Thieves, are open to the public.

• Prof. Stanley Coren will kick off Homecoming festivities with a talk on sleep deprivation, a condition which he says many of us suffer from. Coren's talk is the first in the Favourite Professors Speakers Series and part of the Bringing UBC Downtown program. It takes place from noon to 1 p.m. on Oct. 15 at the Robson Square Conference Centre and is open to the public. To purchase a ticket, which is $10, call 822-3313.

• Murder on the High Seas is the theme of this year's murder mystery dessert event at Cecil Green Park House, Oct. 18. Guests are invited to take part by acting as a suspect or joining fellow detectives in trying to solve the mystery. This is the third time the event has been hosted by the Alumni Association, following two previous sell-outs. Participants can register as individuals or as a team of six. Tickets are $20 and include a dessert buffet. For information and reservations call 822-8923.

• The Great Trek Remembered Luncheon takes place Oct. 18 at Cecil Green Park House. The lunch, to honour alumni for their contributions to UBC's development over the years, will pay special tribute to Evelyn Lett on the occasion of her 100th birthday. Lett was instrumental in the creation of both the Alma Mater Society and the UBC Alumni Association.

• A Literary Event, featuring readings by four alumni authors, will take place Oct. 19 from 1-3 p.m. at Cecil Green Park House. Authors Murray Logan, Zsuzsi Gartner, Genni Gunn and Tim Ward will read from their works at this first-ever literary event, hosted by the Alumni Association and dedicated to the memory of Rosalind MacPhee, author of Picasso's Woman -- an award-winning story on her fight with breast cancer. Call 822-3313.

• The Botanical Garden's annual Apple Festival draws thousands of apple fanciers every year. Visitors to this year's festival will have an opportunity to sample some 50 varieties of apple, question experts regarding apple types, blights and other general apple information, and take in pruning and grafting demonstrations. Apple trees and a wide range of apple varieties will be available for purchase as well. The festival takes place at the Botanical Garden on Southwest Marine Dr. on Oct. 19-20 from 11 a.m.- 4 p.m.