Games, fairs and food are serving the masses of freshmen, transfer students and returning students in Ball State's traditional Welcome Week.
As part of a program created by the university for freshmen to become familiar with campus, Welcome Week events began Aug. 14 and will continue through Aug. 24.
University Program Board, the organization responsible for many of the activities on campus, has hosted most Welcome Week events in the past. This year, the board has limited itself to Quad Bash and the Late Nite Luau.
The Office of Orientation will now head up this week's events in a collaborative effort with greek, multicultural and Housing and Residence Life sponsors.
Quad Bash, 6:30 p.m. Friday, will feature rock climbing, refreshments, free prizes and the movie "Spider-Man." The event will be held between Benificience and the Art Museum.
Jan Gaff, an adviser to UPB, said UPB aims to get a movie every year before it is released to rental stores.
"We try to get movies with an element everybody likes," Gaff said.
With this and the success of "Spider-Man" in mind, UPB chose the movie for one of its highest-attended events, Gaff said. She said Quad Bash has drawn in 1,500 to 2,000 students in the past.
Late Nite at Ball State is beginning its second year with a luau and hog roast from 9 p.m -1 a.m. Saturday in the Student Center. Late Nite is a UPB-sponsored series usually featuring comedy acts, movies and other campus activities. At the luau, food, billiards and dancing will be available at no cost.
Assistant Director of Orientation John Bennett said this weekend's events, including Dan LaRosa, a hypnotist traditionally featured during Welcome Week, have gone well.
"We try to provide as many fun activities as possible," Bennett said.
Earlier gatherings included the Red Squad meeting Aug. 16. Freshmen and transfer students were led by their Red Squad leaders, students assigned to help students move in to dorms, to Worthen Arena for ice-breaker activities and tours to introduce them to Ball State.
Students were given additional opportunities to get involved and meet new people at the Activities Fair held this past weekend.
Bennett said the turnout was large for these events, as 2,200 people came to see the hypnotist and 2,700 attended the convocation, a traditional ceremony to officially welcome new students to Ball State.
"I feel all the events were well attended and all the students enjoyed themselves," Bennett said.
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