By Lisa Jablon and Julia Gardiner
Welcome Week, previously Kick-off Week, upheld the tradition of welcoming new students to the University with a five-day schedule of events beginning Aug. 31 with freshmen move-in and ending Sept. 4 with the commencement address.
The incoming class of 2011 had the opportunity to attend an activity fair, various informational seminars, a mandatory fire safety seminar, and trips around New York City. Out-of-state students had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the inner workings of the city so they can comfortably make repeat visits.
Anita Ellis, director of Student Leadership and Activities (OSLA), judged the week a successful culmination of a summer’s worth of planning. “Welcome Week was excellent. It was great to welcome new students and to see returning students,” said Ellis.
However, students did not participate in high numbers. The Amazing Race event, scheduled for both Saturday and Sunday, was cancelled on both days due to a lack of interest, according to a student with knowledge of the situation, but who would speak only under anonymity.
“Students and volunteers worked excessively hard, but because of a lack of publicity and interest, all the work went to waste,” the student said.
Students were to attend a trip over Labor Day weekend that was previously selected during the summer orientation program by submitting preferences. Popular trips included a Yankees game, the Bronx Zoo, the New York Aquarium in Coney Island and a tour of Rockefeller Center. Visits to nearby locations such as the Roosevelt Field Mall and Jones Beach were also options for students who wanted to learn the basics of getting around off-campus.
“It was a pretty good first week of college,” said incoming freshman Stephanie Johnson. “It was nice for the school to have things set up for us all week to make it seem like we weren’t rushing right into college.”
Other students found it difficult to make friends. “I didn’t really meet anyone new until the first day of classes because I stayed with my roommates almost the whole time,” said Lawrence Khatskelevich, a freshman finance major.
To curb confusion and isolation among new students, over 100 volunteers were trained to guide students to and from the events. The upperclassmen volunteers moved onto campus early and attended a training session to prepare for the program.
“Welcome Week was a little overwhelming for me with all of the activities, but it was exciting,” said Steve Pellegrino, a sophomore resident assistant in Utrecht house in the Netherlands. “I had been here for two weeks in training so I was excited to meet all of my residents and become friends with them. It was fun!”
A team of volunteers sat outside each residence hall on Aug. 31, offering help and information to students and parents entering residence halls for the first time.
“These volunteers were a great help. They made such a major difference to Welcome Week,” said Kimberly Rhyan, assistant director of OSLA. “They stayed for all five days of the program and played hosts to the freshmen. There were teams assigned to each building during move-in and they helped run many events.”
The resident assistant staff, in addition to the assigned volunteers, directed students to events as well as attended them. Commuter students also had a team of volunteers assigned to assist them and were encouraged to stay on campus in order to assimilate into the University community. “Welcome Week was a success this year because there was much more thought and involvement between students and administrators, which made the program geared more toward what students wanted,” said Matt Zazlow, a senior public relations major, Welcome Week coordinator, and undergraduate assistant for OSLA.
The culmination of scheduled social events was the activities fair held Sept. 3 in the Netherlands. University fraternities and sororities campaigned at tables placed throughout the courtyard, various members dancing and promoting their organization on the sidewalks. Club sports teams, University publications and special-interest clubs collected lists of fresh email addresses and names to add to their rosters.
“I learned a lot about a fraternity that I want to join, and I was able to play basketball with my new friends afterwards at the recreation center,” said freshman Marek Chmielowiec.
There were a variety of free activities to produce dorm-room keepsakes. Students lined up with their friends or significant others to get a caricature, a psychic reading, a novelty wax hand, balloon art, or tube of candy sugar art. “The stuff was kinda cheesy,” said Prilas Shelby, a freshman communications major. “Activities were better suited for middle-schoolers.”
The week ended with a formal convocation ceremony and final welcome led by University President Stuart Rabinowitz. Professors adorned in ceremonial robes carrying colorful banners representing each school ushered students into the academic year. “We wanted to introduce the students to traditions and culture and ease them into school before classes started,” said Stan Cherian, director of Orientation and New Student Programs.