Week of Welcome helps students adjust to college

Adjusting to a college environment can be a little tricky andsomewhat intimidating. Week of Welcome is designed to help newstudents meet other students, faculty and staff, and becomefamiliar with the campus. Beginning Sunday, Aug. 15 and continuingthrough Wednesday, Aug. 18, Week of Welcome will offer many eventsintended to acclimate students to their new surroundings.

“We want new students to feel they can make a connection[with other students] right away,” senior psychology majorKatie Elliott said.

WOW opens with a picnic from 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Sunday followedby a pep rally and outdoor concert in the main quad, featuringTexas Country music by the Paul Eason Band at 8 p.m.

“[We want to] make the first night exciting to interestpeople more so than last year,” junior business major EricMangelsen said.

Monday at 5 p.m. first-years will gather at Ford Stadium fortheir class of 2008 picture. From 9 p.m. to 12 p.m. students canplay blackjack, craps and poker at Casino Night in the Hughes-TriggBallroom.

“We focused on attendance building and just want to makesure the first-years have fun and stay busy,” junior musicmajor Brad Scarborough said.

Tuesday from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. WOW presents “Live from SMU:It’s Saturday Night on Tuesday Morning!” WOW leaderswill perform skits from SNL such as Hans and Franz, Opera Man andthe Spartan Cheerleaders.

Senior journalism major Maya Mahoney hopes the skits willattract a wide array of students.

After “Live from SMU,” first-years will gather atthe flagpole for a road trip to Six Flags. To wrap up the evening,hypnotist Chuck Milligan will perform using volunteers from theaudience.

Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. Ponies Reaching into Dallas Elementarieswill meet at the flagpole followed by an activities fair andpizza-tasting contest in the Hughes-Trigg Ballroom. First-yearstudents will end their Week of Welcome with the Rotunda Passageand Convocation beginning at 4 p.m.