Campus gears up to welcome students

A special evening with an acclaimed novelist, a campus arts sampler, study skills workshops and late-night sports are among the activities the university has in store to welcome students new and returning to campus in fall 2000.

Wisconsin Welcome begins Monday, Aug. 28, and will continue throughout September. And the public is invited to the centerpiece event, the Chancellor’s Convocation Tuesday, Sept. 5. “Snow Falling on Cedars” author David Guterson will speak at 7 p.m. in the Kohl Center. Alicia Chavez, the university’s new dean of students, will join Chancellor David Ward in welcoming all students and community members. Free ice cream will be served after the event, and Guterson will sign copies of his book.

New this year is “Arts Night Out,” an overview Saturday, Sept. 16, of campus arts. Geared especially to new students, the evening will present music from classical to world, dance, theater, the visual arts and more. Students have received brochures detailing activities.

Among the other special events are:

• “Up at Night,” Sept. 1, 10 p.m.-1 a.m., SERF and Natatorium. Sports, games, dancing, food and door prizes will acquaint incoming students with rec sports facilities. Free shuttle service between the SERF and the Nat.
• ComedySportz, Sept. 2, 9 p.m. and 11 p.m., Wisconsin Union Theater. Local improvisational group offers its take on campus life.
• Memorial Union Bash, Sept. 2, 9 p.m.-2 a.m., Memorial Union. Bands, movies, dancing, food, games, more.
• Outdoor Aerobics, Sept. 3, 1:30-2:30 p.m., Camp Randall Stadium. UW Recreational Sports aerobic instructors will teach high/low impact routines.
• Bucky’s Block Party, Sept. 7, 5-7 p.m., Kohl Center grounds. The UW Marching band, spirit squad, dance team and Bucky Badger all will perform.

Carren Martin, coordinator of student orientations and, says Wisconsin Welcome provides freshmen and transfer students with a logical conclusion to the university’s summer orientation program.

“New students are only on campus for a day or so during summer orientation, so they only get a brief introduction to the university and what it has to offer,” she says. “During Wisconsin Welcome we try to fill out that first impression of the campus by providing more in-depth experiences.” That’s especially important when the subject is time management or study skills, Martin says.

Veteran students also benefit from Welcome Week events, she adds, “particularly if they’ve left Madison for the summer. Wisconsin Welcome is a great way to get reacquainted with the university.”

In addition to the special events, there will be ongoing opportunities to check out student organizations, bike registration, open houses and more. For complete information on UW–Madison’s Welcome Week 2000, contact Campus Information Assistance and Orientation at (608) 263-0367, or by visiting the Wisconsin Welcome web site at: http://www.wisc.edu/sop/wwelcome.html.