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Division of Student Affairs 

The Student Affairs Focus

Office of Student Activities Plans Host of Welcome Weekend Activities

This fall, the Office of Student Activities arranged a wide variety of welcome weekend activities, which were tied together with the theme "You Belong at Missouri State." These events, which were designed to introduce students to campus and encourage their involvement, were quite successful. A brief summary of these events, as well as their attendance, is listed below:

Friday August 22, 2008

8:00 pm, Plaster Student Union Ballroom, Commuter Student Reception – this event welcomed all of our local commuter students to campus. It featured Mike Jungers, Dean of Students, and Thomas Lane, Assistant to the Vice President of Student Affairs – sponsored by the Dean of Students Office.  Approximately 75 students were in attendance.

Welcome Night Activities8:00 pm, North Mall, Welcome Ceremony and Family Send Off – this event welcomed students and their families to campus. It featured Dr. Earle Doman, Vice President for Student Affairs, Orlando Hodges, Student Body President, Ryan Childress, Student Governor, and Dave Embree, Missouri State parent and Christian Campus House campus minister. At the conclusion of this event students and families said their goodbyes as students left to attend Playfair while family members attended a small reception before they returned home – sponsored by the Office of Student Activities.  Approximately 850 students and family members were in attendance.

8:30 pm, Intramural Field, Playfair – this high energy, interactive event was the perfect way to make new friends at Missouri State! Playfair is a team-building experience that has a long-lasting effect on the students of Missouri State – sponsored by the Residence Hall Association and the Office of Student Activities.  Approximately 1800 students were in attendance.

8:30 pm, Plaster Student Union Foodcourt, Family Reception – before leaving campus families were encouraged to stop by the Plaster Student Union Foodcourt for some light refreshments and mingle with some Missouri State faculty and staff – sponsored by the Student Affairs Office.  Approximately 200 family members were in attendance.

11:00 pm, North Mall, Free Outdoor Movie – Iron Man – students were invited to stay on the North Mall and watch the summer blockbuster film Iron Man on a 16 foot by 22 foot inflatable movie screen – sponsored by the Student Activities Council. Approximately 1200 students were in attendance.


Saturday August 23, 2008

 10:00 am – 2:00 pm, Bear Paw, Oops I forgot … - many students quickly realize on their second day that they may have forgotten some things at home - this program was created to help students take care of any last minute shopping that needed to occur or to just allow them to get off campus and explore some of Springfield. From 10am – 2pm shuttle busses were offering free rides from campus to some local stores and businesses – sponsored by the Office of Student Activities.  Approximately 200 students were in attendance.

7:30 pm – 1:00 am, Plaster Student Union, Bear Bash – This was a complete night of FUN!!! It started with a Bear Bash Tailgate at 7:30pm and the official doors opened to Bear Bash at 9pm. 1000 students received a free Missouri State t-shirt, free food, free sketch comedy performance featuring the Galileo Players, Deal or No Deal (you can win!), Texas Hold 'Em, Bowling, Make Your Own Music videos and much more!!! The night ended with the best breakfast buffet on campus – sponsored by the Office of Student Activities, Plaster Student Union, Student Activities Council, Residence Hall Association, and the Dean of Students office.  Approximately 4000 students were in attendance.

 

Sunday August 24, 2008

12:30 pm, Hammons Student Center East Gym, Greek Reception – this presentation was for any student who was interested in learning more about how involvement in a fraternity or sorority can benefit a student at Missouri State – sponsored by Greek Life.  Approximately 300 students were in attendance.
 

2:00 pm, Hammons Student Center, New Student Convocation – The New Student Convocation officially marked the start of the 2008-09 academic year. Dr. Mark Richter was the featured speaker. Students attending learned more about the university’s public affairs mission in addition to this year’s public affairs theme of “Sustainability.” – sponsored by the Provost Office and the Office of Student Affairs. Approximately 5000 students, faculty and staff were in attendance.

3:00 pm – 4:30 pm, Plaster Student Union, New Student Festival – over 200 student organizations and departments at Missouri State set up tables in the Plaster Student Union to share information and recruit new students. This program is your involvement “one stop shop” event of the year – sponsored by the Office of Student Activities.  Approximately 3000 students were in attendance. 

Submitted by Jeremy Schenk