Hens return to roost
Students return to campus as University opens 2012-13 academic year
2:07 p.m., Aug. 27, 2012--University of Delaware students returned to campus this weekend to a variety of 1743 Welcome Days activities as the 2012-13 academic year got under way.
On Saturday, more than 3,800 freshmen in the Class of 2016 moved in to UD residence halls, assisted by faculty and staff volunteers on the Arrival Survival team. They were followed on Sunday and Monday by returning students.
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The 2012 opening under partly cloudy skies was in welcome contrast to that last year, when Hurricane Irene forced the University to postpone move-in and accompanying activities.
“I applaud the UD community for their efforts in making this opening a positive and welcoming experience for our students and their families,” said Dawn Thompson, dean of students and associate vice president for student life. “The 1743 Welcome Days events were well attended and provided multiple opportunities for our first year students to learn about the campus, get to know one another and have fun. It is great to have the campus come alive with students preparing to start classes on Tuesday. You can feel the enthusiasm and anticipation for the year ahead.”
Saturday opportunities for students to connect included complimentary refreshments, grill stations, a “meet and eat” dinner, residence hall floor and building meetings and, at night under a tent on The Green, a free Campus Breakout comedy concert featuring Michael Ian Black.
In Black’s online program Burning Love, his television show host character Bill Tundle is said to have graduated from the “University of Southwest Delaware” with a degree in broadcast communication.
For parents on Saturday, there were Residence Life meetings and a reception hosted by the Office of the Dean of Students.
On Sunday, a Campus Connections Carnival and “where’s my class?” tours were held on The Green in the afternoon, followed in the event by Student Organization Activities Night, a game show and Hen Zone Madness at the Perkins Student Center and a “Uown the Night” party at the University Bookstore.
Also Sunday night, students were provided bus service to Target at the Christiana Mall for an exclusive after-hours shopping spree.
Monday’s events included a 1743 Welcome Days keynote address by Bertice Berry, a sought-after lecturer who combines her skills as a sociologist and researcher with her ability to make her audiences think and laugh at the same time. She spoke at 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. in the Multipurpose Rooms of the Trabant University Center.
Capping activities Monday night, new students will be formally welcomed into the Blue Hen family at the Class of 2016 Twilight Induction Ceremony beginning at 7 p.m. on the South Green.
The first day of classes was Tuesday.
See what Blue Hens had to say about 1743 Welcome Days on UD's Storify page.
Photos by Doug Baker and Lane McLaughlin