Welcome week returns with events for freshman
Red carts and CGLs greeted freshmen as they moved into their dorms with welcoming fanfare and cheers
Aug. 16.
The first stop for new students on move-in day was their residence halls, where their CGLs helped them and their families unload their belongings from the car and took them to their rooms. Ruthee Reeves, a CGL for one of the Hill residence halls, participated in this event.
“It was such a blessing to be part of the CGL ministry during Welcome Week,” Reeves said. “I remember how much it meant to me and my family to have help and support during move-in my freshman year. I’m so grateful to have gotten to be a part of it this year.”
This is one of six Welcome Week events to help freshmen meet new friends and familiarize themselves with the campus before classes begin.
After most of the new students moved in, the new Reber-Thomas Dining Center hosted DC Takeover, an event where students could play Rock Band. Next, parents and students could attend a family session followed by an evening of prayer on the Academic Lawn and Big Band Night, a concert with TJ Lawson.
On Friday, Aug. 18, students had the opportunity to attend Doughnuts with the Deans, an event on the Montview Steps designed to connect students with the deans of their schools. Students could ask questions regarding their fields of study or simply introduce themselves to the deans while enjoying school-provided doughnuts.
Additionally, freshmen attended New Student Convocation, the first Convocation of the semester on Friday. Later that night, the LaHaye Event Space hosted a Video Game Night for students and provided free pizza for the first 100 students. It offered games such as NBA 2K, Madden, Just Dance, Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros.
Saturday afternoon kicked off the first of many Outdoor Open Mics on the Academic Lawn, where students could sign up to sing and enjoy popsicles. That evening, Student Activities hosted an Outdoor Movie Night with a double-feature showing “Wreck-It Ralph” and “Super Mario Bros.” Students brought blankets to sit on and enjoyed concessions for $1 and free popcorn provided by Student Activities.
Monday brought Welcome Week events to a close with a Transfer Social for incoming students who transferred into Liberty. The event was held in the Montview Game Room on the 2nd floor. Lastly, the student body enjoyed Worship on the Lawn, a night of outdoor worship that began at 8 p.m.
Gabby Trotte, a Student Activities event supervisor, spoke about how events help students learn Liberty’s culture.
“As a new student, it is scary to leave a culture you are familiar with and enter a culture you are unfamiliar with,” Trotte said. “By putting on our Welcome Week events, our goal is to help cultivate connection between students and give them opportunities to create and foster culture (with new friends).”
Jarnigan is the asst. news editor for the Liberty Champion.
