By: Ivan Flores / Contributing Writer
The first day of classes for Summer B students not only included new syllabi and professors. They were also welcomed to a new semester with free burgers, music, crafts, and a chance to meet new classmates who were laughing at their own portraits.
“I had a great time meeting other panthers and enjoyed the hamburgers and hot dogs,” said Shannon Haughie, a junior international relations major.
The Office of Campus Life and Orientation welcomed new and returning students with the Campus Life Welcome Bash on June 24 in the Wolfe University Center’s Panther Square.
Starting at noon and lasting until 2 p.m, the event boasted an estimated 200 students, who all got free potato salad, macaroni salad, hamburgers, hot dogs, baked beans, corn on the cob, cookies, lemonade and fruit punch.
The Campus Life Welcome Bash also featured free caricatures by artist Al Rodriguez, a “create your own sand pen” station, and representatives from the Alumni Association, who told incoming Panthers about the benefits of joining the organization.
The Welcome Bash was organized to bring students together, said Ivy Siegel, coordinator of Campus Life and Orientation. But the event also brought more awareness about the various Biscayne Bay Campus Student Government Association councils students can join.
BBC Student Government Council President Sholom Neistein said he wants students to know the purpose of SGC-BBC, and what it has to offer.
“Campus Life is here for the students, no matter what,” Neistein said. “The same goes for SGA.”
Neistein got acquainted with the incoming students by helping serve their food.
“I love FIU, meeting people and socializing. I love these events; they are great,” said sophomore Sarita Jailal, a marketing major who got her caricature drawn.
Funding for this event comes from the 3.5 percent Activities and Service Fee increase. This increase has brought in an extra $647,000 to the Office of Campus Life, and will continue to fund events throughout the rest of the year, according to Neistein.
While this event welcomed students to a new semester and the academic challenges it brings, it also allowed them to meet possible classmates, Siegel said.
“We have one of these events every semester,” Siegel said. “We want students to get to know other students.”
Although Haughie hoped for different music, the event staff made her feel welcome, she met new people and enjoyed the food.
“I really enjoyed socializing and seeing what everyone did over the summer,” Haughie said. “I do wish that they played different music though.”
The Campus Life Welcome Bash featured a mix of hip-hop tracks and Top 40 hits.
“I would like to have heard more variety. Other than that, I loved this event and I would really like to see many more like this one,” Haughie said. “This was very generous of Campus Life to put on for the students.”
