Students dance the night away at the Silent Disco as part of 2017 Welcome Week festivities. Photo by Thomas Graning/ Ole Miss Digital Imaging Services
OXFORD, Miss. – As the 2018-19 academic year draws near, members of the University of Mississippi community have plenty of activities to get them plugged in during Welcome Month, which runs through Sept. 14.
“The start of the year is always a special time for Ole Miss, with new students and faculty, new relationships and new classes,” Chancellor Jeffrey Vitter said. “There’s an unmistakable upswing in the vibrancy of our campus when the student body returns in full force each fall; it’s truly energizing.”
Coordinated by the Ole Miss Student Union and Student Activities Association, the schedule features nearly 100 events and activities, ranging from movies in the Grove to fitness events.
“More programs and events are offered than ever,” said Bradley Baker, Student Union director. “We hope to welcome students to the Ole Miss campus with many ways to get involved and become engaged while here.”
Partners include the Office of the Chancellor, Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, Center for Student Success and First Year Experience, Associated Student Body, Campus Recreation, Center for Inclusion and Cross Cultural Engagement, Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, Fraternal Leadership and Learning, National Panhellenic Council and Office of Leadership and Advocacy.
Among the scheduled events:
- Thursday (Aug. 16): Splash Into Ole Miss, 7 p.m., Turner Center
- Friday (Aug. 17): Ole Miss Theatre Audition Workshop, 1 p.m., Isom Hall, Room 110
- Saturday (Aug. 18): New Student Kick-Off Picnic, 5:15 p.m., the Grove
- Sunday (Aug. 19): Grove-In Movie Series, 8 p.m., the Grove
- Aug. 20: Ball Pit with Strangers and Bungee Jump, 10 a.m. in the Circle and Galtney-Lott Plaza, respectively
- Aug. 21: Get Involved Fair, 11 a.m., Lyceum Circle; and Fall Convocation, 7 p.m., The Pavilion at Ole Miss
- Aug. 22: Silent Disco, 9 p.m., the Grove
- Aug. 23: Cards Against Hypnosis, 7 p.m., Student Union Ballroom
- Aug. 24: StudentsFIRST Meet and Greet, 11:30 a.m., Martindale Hall, third floor; and Welcome Back Concert, 8 p.m., the Grove
- Aug. 25 – Pride Camp, 10 a.m., Bryant Hall
- Aug. 27: LOU Day, all day on Galtney-Lott Plaza
- Aug. 28: Creed Day, all day on Galtney-Lott Plaza
- Aug. 29: ASB Day: all day on Galtney-Lott Plaza
- Aug. 30: Throwback Thursday, all day on Galtney-Lott Plaza
- Aug. 31: Flagship Friday, all day on Galtney-Lott Plaza
- Sept. 5: Are You Ready? Dialogue Series: Let’s Start the Conversation, Bryant Hall, Room 209
- Sept. 9: Ole Miss vs. Southern Illinois: 3 p.m., Vaught-Hemingway Stadium
- Sept. 11: Mini Destress Fest, time and location to be determined
- Sept. 16: Fall Fair: Food and Fun with RHA, 4 p.m., Kincannon Hall yard
- Sept. 28: Fall Favorites with Chicken-on-a-Stick, 11 a.m., Stewart Hall yard
Other activities include a double-decker bingo tour, campus recreation hiring fair, laser tag, passport to diversity, free challenge course, game night, African-American male networking luncheon, wellness day, fraternal leadership discussion, Greek forum, women’s soccer and volleyball games, a barbecue, water polo, paddleboard yoga class and snow cone giveaways.
The UM Student Activities Association is formed by students to promote special events, Homecoming and musical entertainment. For more details and a full list of events, visit http://union.olemiss.edu/welcome/.