HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Marshall University welcomes its new freshmen and transfer students at Welcome Weekend Friday, Aug. 23, through Sunday, Aug. 25.
Welcome Weekend is to introduce the newcomers to student and university life, and to help with the adjustment of college. More than 1,300 people, including students and their family members, are expected to attend the family picnic Friday.
"It is to get the students to meet others and get acquainted with college life, since it is their new home away from home," said Steve Leadman, orientation coordinator and admissions counselor/recruiter.
The weekend will kick off at 9 a.m. Friday when the students check in at the Marshall Welcome Center. Check-in for Friday will continue through 4 p.m. The family picnic will be from4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Buskirk Field. Drawings in which participants can win football tickets and t-shirts will take place at the picnic. A local band will perform at 6:30 Friday night on the Memorial Student Center plaza.
Saturday check-in begins at 10 a.m. along with several different activities on Buskirk Field. Some offices on campus will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for any last-minute business the students may need to address. Athletic tournaments throughout campus, including basketball, volleyball and tennis, will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and tie-dying will take place from noon to 2 p.m. on Buskirk Field.
A pizza-eating contest for the students will take place on the MSC plaza from noon to 1 p.m. The Marshall fraternities and sororities are sponsoring a dinner and concert from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday, also on the MSC plaza. The students also may attend a movie from 6:30 to 10 p.m. at Marco's in the MSC basement.
Students may participate in adventure games on Buskirk Field from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday and may walk through their schedule from 1 to 2 p.m. At 2:30 p.m., students can enter the grand prize drawing on the MSC plaza. Students who have attended at least seven of the 10 events will be eligible for the drawing by showing their stamped event card.
Students will receive a packet of information at check-in. It will include the timeline for the weekend along with a list of different activities within the community for students. The list includes activities within walking distance as well as activities the students can reach by bus. Students also receive free bus tickets throughout Welcome Weekend to inform them early of what there is to do in the community.
More information is available by contacting Leadman at (304) 696-2247 or (304) 696-2354.