The next 10 days of Welcome Week activities at Ball State University will offer events to be enjoyed by both freshmen and returning students.
Although most of the events are geared toward or meant for first-year students, there are some activities that anyone can attend, John Bennett, assistant director of orientation, said.
One of the biggest events for freshmen is the "Where are my classes?" segment of the week, which is a time when Red Squad Leaders will help students find their classes, Bennet said. This activity will take place between 10 a.m. and noon on Friday.
All students who will be doing this should meet their Red Squad Leaders in the residence hall lobbies around campus, and they should bring a copy of their schedules, according to the office of orientation's Web site.
Hypnotist Dan LaRosa is another of the more popular events of the week, and Bennett invites both freshmen and returning upperclassmen to attend his show.
"He'll hypnotize a bunch of students and make them to do some crazy things," Bennett said.
LaRosa's performance will be Friday at 9 p.m. in John R. Emens Auditorium, which is in the Arts and Communication Building located south of Bracken Library.
For weekend activities, Bennett recommends that new students take part in the Cardinal Games, which are put on by Ball State's Recreation Services and take place from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday on LaFollette Field -- with the Field Sports Building as the rain location.
Later that evening, the Activity Fair will be held on the concourse of Worthen Arena, which will provide students a chance to see the more than 100 student organizations and departments on campus, with members from each organization available to answer questions.
The activity fair is open to any student looking for ways to be connected and involved on campus, Kay Bales, the newly appointed dean of the division of student affairs, said.
Bales also said that any student is welcome to attend the President's Picnic at 5 p.m. Saturday on LaFollette Field -- with rain locations being LaFollette Square and Noyer Centre.
Students with a meal plan can use their Ball State student ID cards to get food at the gathering, but those in attendance who don't have a meal plan will have to pay $6.50 for their food.
University Police officers will also be at the activity fair and picnic just to have their presence be known, and students are free to speak with them when they are available, Gene Burton, director of public safety, said.
Other highlights of the week include Late Nite at the L.A. Pittenger Student Center at 9 p.m. on Saturday, which will feature miniature golf, human jousting, cosmic bowling and free pizza, and the Multicultural Center will be holding its welcome back barbecue on Aug. 26.
Burton also said that parking can be a problem during the first couple weeks of school and that commuters should try to get to campus earlier than usual to make sure they can find spots.
There have also been a couple of changes to the parking rules, most of which affect commuters, and students should make sure to read all the rules to avoid any problems, Burton said.
"We're looking forward to a strong and productive year," he said.
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