CARBONDALE, Ill. — Southern Illinois University Carbondale will roll out the maroon carpet to welcome new and returning students to campus in Saluki style with a series of special activities during Saluki Startup i Welcome weeks.
Students move to campus on August 18th and 19th, and classes begin on August 22nd. Preparations have been underway for months to ensure a smooth transition for students to their new campus away from home. See the online schedule, which is constantly updated as activities are added. Students can also keep up with what’s happening by downloading the Saluki Superfan Appyour portal to monitor student life throughout the year.
Dawg Days helps create a successful transition
SIU Dawg Days Student Retreatset from August 15 to 18 at Touch of Nature outdoor educational center, it’s an action-packed week. Organized and run by students, it is designed to help your fellow new students transition successfully into college life.
Participants learn about Saluki traditions, services and support system as they bond and participate in fun activities such as canoe battleship games, duct tape balls, kayaking, hiking, rock climbing, canoeing, themed evenings, a costume party and much more. . They will also network with campus administrators, faculty and staff, as well as each other.
Establishing connections through Saluki Startup
Creating a Saluki family connection is what Saluki Startup, set for the first few days of the semester, is all. During special activities Aug. 18-21, the college will help returning and new students familiarize themselves with each other and the campus.
A recent popular addition to Saluki Startup is It lights up the lake, set for 19:00-21:00 on August 18, as the ship’s dock will be lit up all night. Campus Lake/Becker Pavilion will come alive with glow-in-the-dark games and activities, slacklining, a climbing wall, a DJ, giveaways, snacks, a pottery wheel and other fun Saluki experiences.
A Resource Fair provides information on what’s available and how to connect with campus departments or units, as well as community organizations, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Aug. 19, in Center Ballroom D of Students. The Saluki Startup Kickoff at 6:30pm on August 19th at Saluki Stadium is a juggernaut, with a class image for the new students. Then the action moves to the Student Recreation Center for late night in the Rec, with volleyball, swimming, basketball and many other activities from 9 to 11 p.m.
The Student Center is the place to be at 7pm on August 20 for the popular Dawg’s Night Out student party as participants enjoy arts and crafts, inflatables, games, food and a variety of fun.
Yenitza Melgoza
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University Communication and Marketing
Day of entry to the SIU.
A favorite tradition, the Chancellor’s Welcome Partywill be on August 21st from 1-3pm, featuring a cookout, DJ, climbing wall, yard games and watermelon, giveaways and a chance to meet campus leaders, faculty and staff.
There are also meet-and-greet events sponsored by numerous schools and groups and various other activities during the first few days of school. Find Saluki Startup’s full schedule of events at wow.siu.edu/saluki-startup. For more information on any of the events, email orientation@siu.edu or call 618-453-1000.
Welcoming everyone with events galore
At SIU, the “welcome back” atmosphere continues with a variety of diverse activities for five Welcome weeks, or WOW, as they call it on campus. Fall lineup highlights include some very special guests you’ll want to see.
SIU will celebrate Diversity Week during this time. Juan Manual “John” Quiñones, ABC News correspondent/journalist and longtime host of “What Would You Do?”, will speak during the Aug. 29 commencement. The commemoration of diversity from August 29 to September 1 will also feature a debate. of military culture, a presentation on disability support and accessibility, jazz ensemble, a celebration of Women’s Equality Day and a jazz and hip-hop seminar, mural painting, SAFE Zone and DACA training and more. The full schedule will be available on line when it ends
You can also “Meet Kevin and Oscar from ‘The Office'” in the Ballrooms of the Student Center at 6pm on September 22nd. Oscar Martinez and Kevin Malone, played by Oscar Nuñez and Brian Baumgartner, will share about their time at the NBC Emmy. winning series “The Office”. Students and the general public are welcome to attend the presentation free of charge; tickets are not required and entry is on a first-come, first-served basis. A book signing will follow and some lucky guests will have the opportunity to meet the couple at a reception following the moderated event.
Rusty Bailey/Rusty Bailey, SIUC Media & Commu
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Rusty Bailey, SIUC Media & Commu
TON Dawg Days Battleship Wars Freshmen have the opportunity to hang out with other students during Touch of Nature doing a variety of outdoor activities before the school year begins.
Other Welcome Week activities include open houses, an involvement fair, movies, a job fair, a bonfire, barbecue, workshops, student organization events and a free family carnival in the west gym from the Student Recreation Center from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on August 27. with a bounce house, games, snacks and more. Aimed at non-traditional families, the event is designed to help them learn about the campus and community and connect with resources and others.
The Welcome Weeks will end with Saluki Family Weekendfrom September 23 to 25, with a craft saleGreek Sing and other activities, including the tea Salukis football hosting North Dakota in gridiron action.
visit wow.siu.edu for the full schedule of events, which is subject to change based on weather and other factors.
