SU welcomes new, returning students during Opening Weekend 2002

SU welcomes new, returning students during Opening Weekend 2002August 19, 2002Sara Millersemortim@syr.edu

The Chancellor’s Convocation for New Students, the official start to the new academic year, will be held Aug. 23 in the Carrier Dome

The fall bustle of college life returns to Syracuse Aug. 22 as more than 15,000 new and returning University students arrive on campus. Opening Weekend activities include information and entertainment for students and families, beginning Thursday and running through Sunday. Classes begin Monday, Aug. 26.

The residential University dining halls (Brockway, Graham, Haven, Sadler and Shaw) will provide free lunch for parents and family Aug. 21-23. On Aug. 23, a complimentary breakfast will be offered. And, on the evening of Aug. 22, a discount dinner for parents and family is available at $7 per person (under the age of 12–$4; under 5-free)

Thursday, Aug 22

Students check into the residence halls beginning at 8 a.m. Thursday. Helping with this move, as always, is the 300-strong, all-volunteer, “Goon Squad.” Goon Squad members will be ready to greet new arrivals, unload cars and help move students into their rooms. Resident advisors and 60 staff volunteers will be on hand around campus to check-in students and answer questions.

Following the move-in, students and parents who need to set up telephone, cable, banking, computing and other accounts can meet with service representatives at “Taking Care of Business” in the Schine Student Center’s

Goldstein Auditorium between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Additionally, Human Resources Student Employment Services will be there to register students for student employment and answer questions for those that have never worked at the University.

Beginning at 9 a.m., parents can meet other parents and talk to campus representatives at “Parents Place,” a hospitality and information tent on the Quad (rain location: Huntington Beard Crouse Hall). Hosted by the Parents Office, this is an opportunity for families of new students to ask questions and gather information on events in the upcoming year.

Thursday evening from 8-9 p.m., parents will have the opportunity to attend one of the following events designed especially for “first-timers” and “veterans.” Both events are located in rooms in the Schine Student Center:

• The “Parents Convocation” in Goldstein Auditorium will be focused primarily to parents bringing their first student to college. Colleen Bench, director of the Parents Office, and Barry L. Wells, senior vice president and dean of student affairs, will welcome new parents. Then, Ronald Cavanagh, vice president for undergraduate studies, and Gerardine Clark, professor of drama in the College of Visual and Performing Arts, will keynote the event with a discussion on the first-year experience and dealing with the new transition.

• The “Parent-to-Parent Reception,” an informal gathering deigned for those not-so-new to the college experience, will be in the Panasci Lounge. Parents will have the opportunity to talk with campus representatives and other SU parents.

Thursday evening activities for students include individual residence hall meetings beginning at 7 p.m. Ice cream socials then follow the hall meetings (Brewster, Sadler, Boland and Lawrinson are at 8 p.m.; Day, Flint and Shaw Halls are at 9 p.m.). Afterward, students can choose from several activities to relax with friends and meet new classmates.

Beginning at 10 p.m., “Late Night at the Gym” premiers with open swim and recreation until 1 a.m. in Archbold Gym. This program continues on Friday and Saturday evenings. On Friday, things kick off at 9 p.m. and run until 2 a.m. with free snacks and refreshments, free t-shirts for the first 100 students, massages by the “Artist of Massage,” a pool party with DJ, classes in yoga, salsa, meringue, and self-defense, and much more.

For those that prefer to cool down after the hot summer, the Tennity Ice Pavilion will be open from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. for free skating and rentals, contests, prizes and food. The Tennity Ice Pavilion is located on South Campus, with buses available from College Place.

At 11 p.m., students can laugh and relax with comedian Jason Stuart-fresh from appearances on “Will & Grace” and the “Drew Carey Show.” Stuart will perform in Goldstein Auditorium in the Schine Student Center.

Friday, Aug. 23

On Friday morning from 9-9:45 a.m., Hendricks Chapel will host the “Matriculation Ceremony” to welcome new students to the University community. Based on Oxford University’s Encoenium, this brief service will offer a blessing for the new year and introduce each of the chaplains, Hendricks Chapel staff members and services.

The “Chancellor’s Convocation,” the ceremonial opening of the University for students and parents, will be from 10:30-11:30 a.m. in the Carrier Dome. Following the Chancellor’s welcome, students and parents will gather for lunch on the Carrier Dome turf.After parents and families depart following Friday’s lunch, students will kick-off the new academic year with a variety of Opening Weekend events and entertainment.

Beginning at 1:30 p.m., students will be directed to the Dean’s Convocations of their individual colleges to meet with faculty and other students.

Friday evening from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., representatives from offices across the SU campus will be on-hand to share information about services and student programs at “Diversity Tabling.” This introduction to the diverse University community will be held in Schine Atrium.

At 7 and 9 p.m., the “Welcome to Syracuse” show in the Goldstein Auditorium offers valuable information about living and becoming involved in the University community.

Saturday, Aug. 24

On Saturday, the annual picnic for new students will be held at 6 p.m in front of Hendricks Chapel. All new students are invited to attend, including transfer students, off-campus students and commuting students.

Saturday evening offers another full slate of activities. The Schine Center at 8:30 p.m. will offer caricature artists, henna artists, massage artists and more. Down below in the Schine Underground, students can press their luck with Casino Games.

The Department of Public Safety will offer “Personal Safety 101,” an interactive program for students to learn about how to stay secure on campus and the services the department offers. This program will run several times throughout the evening, beginning at 8:30 p.m. in Room 304A in the Schine Student Center. The Office of Career Services will offer a similar informational program in Room 304C with the “Career Quest Game Show,” where students can get a jump on preparing for their career.

At 9 p.m., the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Resource Center will host a community social as a fun, informal way to meet other students, located in Room 304B in the Schine Student Center.

With shows at 9 and 11 p.m., hypnotist Dr. Steve Atwood will take volunteers from the audience to be a part of his “entrancing” program in Goldstein Auditorium. Free tickets are required for this event and are available at the Schine Box Office beginning Aug. 21.

From 10 p.m to 1 a.m., free skating continues at “Chillin at the Rink” at the Tennity Ice Pavilion. Buses will again run to South Campus from College Place.

Sunday, Aug. 25

Sunday allows for students to attend to those final details in preparation for classes on Monday, which include gathering textbooks and I.D. cards, along with residence hall meetings at 7 p.m., followed by ice cream socials.

Many Opening Weekend events are planned by religious organizations through Hendricks Chapel. A schedule of services is listed in the Opening Weekend booklet available on campus and on the Web at http://sunews.syr.edu.

Facts about the 2002 Syracuse University freshman class

• Number of freshmen–There are 2,925 new freshmen and 250 transfer students this year.

• Quality of students–The average G.P.A. of this year’s class is 3.5; the SAT scores of the middle 50 percent of the class range from 1130 to 1300.

• High school education–79 percent attended public high schools; 21 percent attended private high schools.

• Financial Aid–Forty-one percent of the class is eligible for merit scholarships, and 75 percent of the students in this year’s class are the recipients of merit scholarships and/or other need-based aid.

• Gender–The class is 58 percent female, 42 percent male, reflective of a continuing national trend.

• Ethnicity–16 percent of this year’s class identify themselves as African American, Latino, Asian, Native American or other students of color.

• Geographically speaking–Nearly 72 percent of the incoming class comes from five northeastern states: New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Connecticut. Only 38 percent are from New York. Other states notably represented are Maryland, New Hampshire, California, Ohio, Virginia and Florida. Forty-eight U.S. states and territories are represented in this year’s class.

• International students–There are 63 freshman international students representing 27 countries.