Southeastern launches semester with Winter Welcome
Tuesday, January 16, 2018
by: Tonya Lowentritt
HAMMOND – New and returning Southeastern Louisiana University students will be welcomed
back in style this spring semester with a multitude of activities and events offered
through “Winter Welcome.”
Scheduled Jan. 17-25, Winter Welcome is intended to help students make Southeastern
their home away from home and to settle into campus life as classes begin, said Angela
James, interim director of the Office of Student Engagement and Student Accessibility
Services.
“The spring semester is no less important than the fall, so we thought it was
appropriate to welcome our students back with a week of engaged programming similar
to what we offer in the fall,” James said. “Our hope is that participation in Winter
Welcome will lessen students’ anxieties and prepare them for a successful semester.”
Winter Welcome starts Wednesday, Jan. 17, with a welcome back tailgate at the
men’s basketball game at Southeastern’s University Center. The tailgate begins at
5:30 p.m. with the game scheduled at 7 p.m.
Monday, Jan. 22, features “Hot Dog You’re Back” at Pride Hall from 11 a.m. to
1 p.m. Sponsored by the University Counseling Center and University Police Department,
students will be treated to complimentary hot dogs and an alcohol awareness program.
A “Cookie Crawl,” highlights Tuesday, Jan. 23. Scheduled from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
in the Student Union breezeway, James said the Cookie Crawl is a fun twist on a pub
crawl replacing beverages with cookies. Students will collect cookies and information
along their quest from various departments across campus.
Three events are scheduled on Wednesday, Jan. 24. First up is a ribbon cutting
ceremony in the Student Union at 11:30 a.m. for the official opening of “Enrollment
Services Express,” a new multi-faceted office on main campus to assist students with
admissions, financial aid, records and registration needs.
Two additional events are scheduled on Jan. 24, both at 7 p.m. The University
Center will host “Pack the House – Cane’s Challenge” during the Lady Lions basketball
game. The Lady Lions will look to pack the house when Sam Houston State comes to town.
The first 300 Southeastern students in attendance will receive Southeastern Athletics
promotional items and SLU students will also have the chance to sign up to win prizes
courtesy of Southeastern Athletics.
Additionally, Poet Rudy Francisco will present some of his work at the Student
Union Theatre. A resident of San Diego, Calif., Francisco is one of the most recognizable
names in spoken word poetry.
“Rudy Francisco uses personal narratives to discuss the politics of race, class,
gender and religion, while simultaneously pinpointing and reinforcing the interconnected
nature of human existence,” James said. “Francisco seeks to create work that promotes
healthy dialogue, discourse and social change.”
Thursday, Jan. 25, is highlighted by “Silent Disco.” Scheduled at 7 p.m. in the
Student Union Ballroom, Silent Disco is an event where people dance to music listened
to on wireless headphones. Rather than using a speaker system, music is broadcast
via a radio transmitter.
“The headphones have three channels for three different DJ’s. Each channel has
a different color so that participants can see what everyone is listening to,” James
said. “Headsets will be provided for the event. Students present their ID’s to utilize
the headphones and, once finished, return the headphones and receive their ID’s back.”
The final event of Winter Welcome is scheduled Monday, Jan. 29, at 5:30 p.m.,
when students will meet at the Pennington Student Activity Center for a Dr. Martin
Luther King march and remembrance program.
For more information on any Winter Welcome activities or events, contact the
Office of Student Engagement at 985-549-2120.