August 11, 2008

SIUC ready to welcome new, returning students

by Christi Mathis

CARBONDALE, Ill -- When is a week not seven days? When it’s the Southern Illinois University Carbondale Week of Welcome, of course. The University is hosting so many events and activities to welcome new and returning students that the 2008 “Week” of Welcome actually lasts about two weeks.

Activities kick off on Thursday, Aug. 14, and wrap up Aug. 29. Classes begin Aug. 18.

Week of Welcome highlights include:

Thursday, Aug. 14

• Move-in for students in the Freshman Interest Groups and the 2-Year Edge program. Students report directly to their building any time after 9 a.m. Volunteers will help with move-in.

Friday, Aug. 15

• New student move-in for all new students not eligible for the Thursday moving date. It begins at 7 a.m. and volunteers will help with the moving.

• Move-in cookout, 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. at Grinnell, Trueblood, Lentz and University halls, with free food compliments of University Housing.

• Saluki Oasis, 1-4 p.m. in the International Lounge on the second floor of the Student Center. It’s a chance to relax, cool off and refresh with Dippin’ Dots courtesy of SIUC alumnus Curt Jones as well as gourmet cookies and ice water. You can register for giveaways, enjoy a quick chair massage, meet fellow students, families and alumni and register for the SIU Alumni Association’s $500 textbook scholarship, good during the spring 2009 semester.

• Welcome Fest, 7 p.m., SIU Arena, an event packed with activities, contests, free food and giveaways and the chance to learn more about the University and the community. See how you can get involved. Welcome Fest is for the whole family. New Student Programs and Saluki Athletics sponsor the U-card event.

Saturday, Aug. 16

* Move-in for returning students starts at 8 a.m.

• Student Programming Council Fun Fest, 7-8 p.m. at the Student Center’s Corker Lounge with games, prizes, and information about how you can get involved with the Student Programming Council.

• Frederick Winters, comedy hypnotist, 8 p.m. Student Center Ballroom D. Features the 2006 Campus Entertainer of the Year in a hilarious, imaginative show featuring Winters hypnotizing some of the audience too.

Sunday, Aug. 17

• Class location tours all afternoon with Student Life Advisors coordinating. Tours exploring campus and classroom locales leave every hour, on the hour, from 1 to 4 p.m. from the Student Center main entrance.

• InterVarsity Christian Fellowship luau beach party, 6-8 p.m. on Campus Lake Beach with free food and drinks, games and sporting activities, music, giveaways and more. All students are welcome.

Monday, Aug. 18

• Greek Life: “What’s It All About,” 8-9:15 p.m. at Grinnell Hall lower level, providing an introduction to the SIUC Greek organizations. A panel will answer questions.

Tuesday, Aug. 19

• Meet Me on Main Street, 6-10 p.m. It kicks off on the Student Recreation Center lawn with free food and drinks and all sorts of activities and entertainment. Activities include a stunt biking demonstration from The Bike Surgeon, The Old National Bank Monday Game, inflatable bounce activities from Murdale True Value and information tables and giveaways. Defined Perception is giving a free concert on the lawn and participants can win prizes in the Pepsi Spin to Win game. In a scavenger hunt from 7:30 to 8:15 p.m. participants get their cards stamped at a variety of local businesses, with completed cards turned in at Town Square Pavilion. Prizes include $100 cash, roundtrip Amtrak tickets to Chicago and gift certificates good at downtown businesses. The Natives give a free concert at the pavilion from 7:30 to 10 p.m. Refreshments are free too. It’s Carbondale Main Street and SIUC’s sixth annual Meet Me On Main Street event to welcome new and returning students to Carbondale.

Wednesday, Aug. 20

• Kappa Alpha Psi presents “College Preparation 101,” 7 p.m., Student Center auditorium. It’s an informative discussion featuring a panel comprised of SIUC faculty, staff and Kappa members offering information and advice for a successful college career.

• Greek Life: What’s It All About,” 7-8:15, Lentz Hall Dining Room 5, with a panel including representatives of various SIUC Greek organizations answering questions.

Thursday, Aug. 21

• Student Center Open House, 11 a.m., to 6 p.m.

• Making College Count, 4-5 p.m., Student Center Ballroom B. It’s a free, interesting and interactive program for all first-year students.

• “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” 7 p.m. Student Center Auditorium, free movie viewing thanks to the Student Programming Council Comedy Committee. It’s a comedy about getting dumped and taking it like a man, organizers say.

Saturday, Aug. 23

• University Housing’s welcome cook-out, 4-7 p.m. at Rinella Field between Brush Towers and the Student Recreation Center. There’s free food, inflatable rides, games and prizes and information about getting involved with all sorts of student organizations.

Sunday, Aug. 24

• Res 2 Rec, noon-11 p.m. in front of the Arena. This intramural sports fest begins on the fields near the Arena and continues from 6-11 p.m. in the Student Recreation Center, giving students the opportunity to see what the center has to offer. Buses will leave from the area near Lentz Hall every 30 minutes starting at 5:30 p.m. to take participants to the Recreation Center. A free poolside movie at 9 p.m. caps the day’s fun.

Tuesday, Aug. 26

• Black Togetherness Organization introductory meeting and ice cream social, 8-9:15 p.m., Grinnell Hall lower level. Open to all, it’s courtesy of the University Housing student organization that promotes personal leadership development.

Thursday, Aug. 28

• Black Togetherness Organization and Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity discussion and snow cone social, 6-9 p.m., Grinnell Hall lower level. It’s a panel discussion about SIUC Greek life topped off with free snow cones.

Friday, Aug. 29

• Black Togetherness Organization and Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity pool party, 6-10 p.m., University Hall, free music, food and a relaxing pool evening.

Some offices will have extended hour during the Week of Welcome. For more information and the complete schedule, visit the Web site at www.newstudent.siu.edu/wow/ or contact New Student Programs at 618/453-1000.