This week several University departments, student organizations and other groups will set up information booths and provide free food and live music to help welcome students back to school. Many off-campus vendors have rented space near the SUB to help make this week’s events possible. The vendors will vary throughout the week, and most will provide services catered specifically to students.
Coordinated by the Student Activities Center, this year’s Welcome Back Week started on Friday with a social at the SUB, followed by a class crawl and a free movie showing on Johnson Field on Sunday.
Ryan Lindquist, associate director of the Student Activities Center, said Welcome Back Week is only just beginning.
Lindquist said he thinks the event helps to make students that are new to campus feel welcome.
“The free food makes people happy, but the information tables are what is really important because they provide students with the resources and tools they need to be successful and keep them achieving,” he said.
Noel Ortiz, a coordinator for Recreational Services, said this week is crucial in informing students about what services are available to them. He said UNM has an active cycling community, but many of them aren’t even aware that Recreational Services has a bicycle shop located in Johnson Center. Ortiz said there are bike mechanics on duty from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., offering repairs, tune ups, complete overhauls and even rentals.
“We find that by targeting cyclists during this week, we see about a 60-70 percent increase in services,” Ortiz said.
Phoenix Hathaway, a graduate student in counselor education, Elizabeth Bates, a senior psychology major, and Mallory Christensen, a senior college of arts and sciences major, were giving out information at the Women’s Resource Center information booth.
Hathaway said she thinks the Welcome Back Days are important because they give them an opportunity to educate students about the services offered by the WRC.
Bates said the Women’s Resource Center, located in Mesa Vista Hall, provides services and information for people of all sorts.
“Our program is not just for women; it’s for everybody,” she said.
Christensen said the biggest thing they are hoping to give students is the opportunity to hear Laci Green, a sex education activist. Green will be speaking at the Student Union Building Ballrooms on Thursday, Aug. 20 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the UNM Bookstore and are free to UNM students, staff and faculty. They are available for $10 to the public.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
For the rest of the week on the main campus, Welcome Back Days will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Duck Pond and SUB Mall. Free food and live music will be available from noon until 1:00 p.m. The North Campus will have its event on Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the courtyard between the Basic Medical Sciences building and Nursing and Pharmacy building. Free hot dogs and Pepsi products will be served there.
Tuesday, Aug. 18
Safety, Health, Wellness and ROTC will offer safety demonstrations, information booths, displays and activities. Free watermelon and live music from Ry Taylor will be offered this day.
Wednesday, Aug. 19
The ethnic, women’s and LGBTQ centers and other culture-based programs and departments will be available. Sol de la Noche will perform music and free green chile stew and Pepsi products will be served.
Thursday, Aug. 20
Associated Students of the University of New Mexico leaders will provide information about over 400 student organizations on campus, about half of which will have information tables. Free pizza and Pepsi products will be served and music will be performed by Great States.
Friday, Aug. 21
Students looking for a job on campus can receive information about work study and student employment positions available, as well as community service opportunities. Local DJ Josh Burg will provide music while free hot dogs and Pepsi products are served on the final day of the event.
For those that missed the movie showing, the SUB theater located on the south end of the lower level is offering several other free showings. Please visit here for more information.
For more information about Welcome Back Days, click here.
Robert Maler is a freelance reporter for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at culture@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @DailyLobo.
