9-15-98

WELCOME WEEK CONNECTS AND INTRODUCES STUDENTS TO OHIO STATE

	COLUMBUS --  As some 48,500 students gather on the Columbus 
campus of The Ohio State University to begin a new academic year, 
faculty, staff and university officials have planned numerous 
programs and activities designed to welcome and reconnect the 
students to Ohio State.  Autumn quarter classes begin Sept. 23.

	President William E. Kirwan will welcome students on 
Tuesday, Sept. 22 with a convocation and picnic.  The 
convocation, at 10:30 a.m. in St. John Arena, will feature a 
colorful processional of faculty in academic regalia as well as 
remarks by Kirwan; David Williams II, vice president for student 
and urban/community affairs; and Josh Mandel, president of 
Undergraduate Student Government.  The Ohio State University 
Marching Band will perform.

	University, college and student leaders will be introduced.  
The marching band will then lead the students to the Oval, where 
Kirwan will welcome them at a noon picnic with some 30 food and 
service vendors.

	The convocation and picnic are part of Welcome Week, a 
series of activities and programs designed to welcome and 
introduce faculty, staff and school traditions to new and 
returning students to Ohio State.  Welcome Week will take place 
Sept. 21-26.

	Williams said Welcome Week will include more events than 
last year as part of Student Affairs’ efforts to continue to 
improve the student experience at Ohio State.  He said the week 
will be the biggest and best welcome students have had at Ohio 
State, helping guarantee they are happy to be Buckeyes.

	“We won’t stop at the first week.  We have to keep the 
commitment going,” Williams said.  “That first week and first 
year is crucial in the area of retention.  We want to get that 
initial contact with students and make them feel connected.”

	Between Sunday (9/20) and Tuesday (9/22), 8,150 students 
will be moving into dormitories; about half of them are expected 
Sunday, the first day residence halls open. 

	To help with the move-in process, at least 900 student 
volunteers, called OWLs or “Orientation Welcome Leaders,” will 
unload cars and help cart student belongings into the residence 
halls.

	“The move-in process is very well orchestrated,” said Toni 
Greenslade-Smith, assistant director of Residence Life.  “In 
addition to helping students with the move, OWLs can give 
information and insight to the incoming students and their 
parents.”

	Once students have finished moving in, they can participate 
in a number of events, including Community Commitment, Monday 
(9/21) beginning at 9 a.m. at the Ohio Union West Lawn, 1739 N. 
High St.  One of the largest service-learning projects on a 
college campus, some 1,200 students will volunteer for several 
hours at numerous sites throughout the city performing various 
community services.
	
	“We are exposing students to community service on the first 
day of Welcome Week to whet their appetite for service-learning 
and to let them know our commitment to the community and to the 
students,” said Tracy Stuck, director of Student Activities.  “It 
also serves to help establish a sense of community for the 
students.”

	Students can learn about student organizations at the 
Student Involvement Fair Tuesday (9/22) at noon on the Oval, with 
representatives from some 260 campus and local organizations.  An 
on-campus job fair will be held Wednesday (9/23) from 10 a.m. to 
4 p.m. at the Ohio Union with more than 50 campus departments 
looking to hire students, followed by a walk around the 
University District at 6 p.m. to welcome students back to the 
area.
	
	Students can then catch “Scarlet Fever” at a pep rally at 
St. John Arena Thursday (9/24) at 8 p.m.  Ohio State and 
community dignitaries, sports teams, cheerleaders, Brutus Buckeye 
and the Ohio State Pep Band will be on hand to welcome students 
and their guests.  Area businesses and Ohio State vendors will 
give away prizes such as a mountain bike, free room and board, 
dinners, tickets to special events and more.

	On Saturday (9/26), a street fair will be held on High 
Street from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.  High Street will be closed from 
12th to 16th avenues to make way for a festival of music, food, 
vendors and carnival-like games and activities.
 
	 Other events include the Wexner Center student open house, 
fraternity programs, music, dancing and movies.

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Contact:  Tracy Stuck, director of student activities, 
	  (614) 292-8763.