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CHARLES PRITCHARD
Staff Writer
The first week back has come and gone, leaving students with many things to wonder as the Spring semester starts to truly kick off.
Some students are all fresh and wide-eyed, never having been to Fredonia before and experiencing everything for the first time. Others are veterans and have gotten used to the song and dance of settling back into routine now that vacation is over.
But whether new arrivals or old guard, Welcome Week was a hit with all of them.
Starting on Jan. 19 and carrying on all the way to this past Saturday, students were invited to the Williams Center Multipurpose Room for a multitude of events.
Game Night, Zumba, Bingo, Garbage Plates and Random Acts and even a Casino Night were hosted by the Weekend Hang Out Activities (WHOA).
Game Night was co-sponsored by the Gamers Guild and Fun and Logic clubs, and had mountains of board games for people to play and try.
Zumba and Fitness night was instructed by Eva Mancarella and Sarah Chamberlain, students and instructors at the Aerobics Center.
“We tried a new event, [Game Night], for this Welcome Week, and we had a really good turnout,” said Rachel Ando, Spectrum president. “And people really enjoy Zumba, that’s something they like to do and, with how cold the weather was, I was surprised how many people showed up for Bingo. I guess they really like their Bingo.”
One of the bigger additions to Welcome Week was on Friday, where people could not only grab a Garbage Plate, but enjoy a show put on by Random Acts, Fredonia’s popular improv-comedy troupe.
“We approached [Random Acts],” Ando said. “They’re so, funny, and everyone loves them, and we thought it would be fun to do an event with them.”
“And we wanted to pair something up with the food,” Meghan Flynn, Spectrum vice president, added. “We wanted a reason for people to come and stay. It’s like a dinner theatre.”
For a week long event, something like this would take a lot of planning and forethought, which Spectrum has in spades.
“We start preparing for Welcome Week before winter break,” Ando said. “We only have so much time when we get back to scramble and get everything prepared. Basically, we come up with a plan and book them before the semester ends. The only thing we really had to scramble for was the Bingo prizes.”
Among these prizes were gift cards, food, and a brand-new Keurig 2.0 coffee brewer.
In the end, whether it was a ‘welcome back’ or just a plain ‘welcome,’ students found something to enjoy during Welcome Week — and there’s still more to come.
Organized by Spectrum as well, Activities Night will be held tonight.
With Fredonia’s ever growing number of clubs, there’s always a chance to find that thing that you love, whether it be extreme sports or trading cards, and share it with others who enjoy it as well.