UDaily is produced by the Office of Public Relations
150 South College Ave.
Newark, DE 19716-2701
(302) 831-2791

3:40 p.m., Aug. 29, 2003--A return to school may mean the end of carefree summer days, but, with all that’s planned on campus this weekend, the transition ought to be fun and informative.

Starting Sunday, Aug. 31, and continuing through Friday, Sept. 5, a variety of activities are planned to ease the moving-in process and welcome new and returning students back to campus.

Following is a run-down of highlights for the coming week.

Sunday, Aug. 31
Set to coincide with the arrival of freshman and transfer students, two events are scheduled for the evening of Sunday, Aug. 31. Campus ghost tours, offered at both 9 and 11 p.m., will acquaint new arrivals with the University’s spookiest spots and give students a chance to learn some local lore. The walking tours, which are led by area storyteller Ed Okonowicz, depart from the steps of Old College and bracket First Fright, another (scary) event, which runs from 9 to 11 p.m. behind Christiana Towers on New London Road. First Fright includes games, activities and an outdoor screening of “The Ring,” a movie billed as “the most terrifying flick of all time.” Both events are free. The location for First Fright, in the event of rain, is the Trabant University Center.

Monday, Sept. 1
Welcome to the Neighborhood, a meet-and-greet event geared specifically for new students, gives those unfamiliar with the area a crash course on the wealth of opportunities for community involvement. Featuring representatives from various on- and off-campus associations, the free event, which runs from 1-4 p.m. on the South Green, provides new arrivals with the chance to sign up for volunteer work and get acquainted with the world beyond residence hall walls. For returning students and those who missed the first round, two more opportunities for the campus ghost tours are offered again at 9 and 11 p.m. And for those with a sweet tooth, the Free Sundae on Monday event, scheduled for 8 p.m. in the Collins Room at the Perkins Student Center, will provide yet another opportunity to mingle and make new friends.

At 9 p.m., the Out & About Loop begins from various points on campus as the University converts itself into one big casino. Dubbed “The Big City Tour,” the campuswide loop, which runs until 1 a.m., will feature raffles at the Trabant University Center, the Perkins Student Center, The Green and the Carpenter Sports Building. Prizes include free trips to major American cities, such as Las Vegas, Hollywood, New York, Chicago, Miami Beach and Philadelphia. The free event also highlights a 9 p.m. performance in the Bacchus Theatre of the Perkins Student Center by visiting stand-up comedians Alex House and Sherrod Small.

Tuesday, Sept. 2
Capping the day, an Activities Night sponsored by the Student Centers Program Advisory Board (SCPAB) begins at 7 p.m. at the Trabant University Center. Featuring games and meet-and-greet activities, the event will give new and returning students a chance to mingle and socialize before the start of classes. Students can learn about more than 180 student organizations ranging from student government to the arts to recreation to religious to community service to fraternities and sororities.

Thursday, Sept. 4
The Blue Hen Adventure, beginning at 7:30 p.m., offers a mid-week break with a campuswide scavenger hunt. The adventure steps off from the north side of Memorial Hall and finishes with a party in the Trabant University Center multipurpose room at 9 p.m. The event is cosponsored by the SCPAB and the Center for Counseling and Student Development. Prizes will be awarded to students who find the most places on campus that offer alcohol-free activities.

Friday, Sept. 5
First Fling, sponsored by SCPAB, gets the first Friday on campus under way with an ’80s-themed event that runs from noon-4 p.m. on the patio of the Trabant University Center. Live music will be provided by local favorite dance band Chorduroy. Admission is free, and students are encouraged to dress according to the theme. A free screening of “The Matrix” will be offered at 9 p.m. on the North Green.

The activities listed above are just some of the coming week’s offerings. For more information about campus activities, visit the Student Events web site at [www.udel.edu/studentevents/] and the online campus Calendar of Events at [www.udel.edu/main/news.html].

Article by Becca Hutchinson