Hundreds of Oakland University students gathered at this year’s Week of Champions at Oakland University kickoff event to celebrate with cake, free t-shirts and a little taste of the past.

The event, which took place in the Oakland Center’s Pioneer Food Court Oct. 8, was a combination of celebrations — OU founder Matilda Wilson’s 129^th birthday, OU’s 55^th anniversary and the start of another Week of Champions at Oakland University.

Entertainment was provided by local Beatles tribute band The BackBeats, who played hits “Can’t Buy Me Love” and “Yellow Submarine,” among others.

Jean Ann Miller, director of the Center for Student Activities, helped organize the event and said this band was specifically chosen to celebrate OU’s 55^th anniversary.

“We thought it would be really cool to connect the past with the future,” she said

Junior biology major Alexandria Jones, president of OU’s Grizz Gang, volunteered at the event. She handed out refreshments and WOCOU t-shirts to students.

Jones explained the goal of WOCOU is “getting everyone pumped up for this year’s basketball season.”

Miller said the remainder of the week will be filled with other activities to celebrate “OU’s champions.”

“We’ve done this (WOCOU) for 16, 17 years now,” she said. “It’s our spirit week.”