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.




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