ECSU holds Student and Family Appreciation Day for freshmen

Kesha Williams
August 21, 2014

Some would argue that it’s the most anticipated day of the year for college freshmen-the day freshmen move into residence halls! Freshmen are giddy and parents have mixed emotions.  ECSU staff and administrators met freshmen with a warm welcome on Saturday by holding &quotStudent and Family Appreciation Day&quot in the Quad area of Williams Hall. Freshmen entered a festive yard of blue and white, balloon-clad tents, a spread of tasty cookout favorites, music by DJ Remedy, cornhole, Frisbee, tug-of-war, card games and board games. The Sound of Class Marching Band also performed for the newcomers. The event drew freshmen who moved into residence halls Saturday morning and afternoon. This event was one of several events scheduled for Welcome Back Week 2014.  Arvin Mullen, director of Residence Life said freshmen seemed eager to begin the new semester and responded positively to their room assignments. Freshmen are housed in Viking Tower, University Towers, and University Suits which will allow them to enjoy the newer residence halls. Some freshmen were fortunate enough to land a single room. Upperclassmen made room reservations last April. Residence Life makes room assignments for freshmen. Mullen said students who are participating in ECSU’s Honors Program were assigned to a segment of rooms in Viking Towers. Residence Life staff are confident students are ready now for a productive semester.  Deborah Branch, associate vice chancellor for the Division of Student Affairs, said she is confident they are poised to help freshmen transition from high school to the university. Student services include assistance from Residence Managers, adult staff members who work in the residence halls, services in Counseling and Testing, services provided by Student Health Services, and a pre-packaged collection of book/class supplies from the Campus Store. This year, Branch said they are using a new software, &quotThink About it Training,&quot to address campus life issues. This software is a primary, prevention education training segment that alerts freshmen about sexual assault, stalking, dating violence and domestic violence issues.  &quotWe’ve long provided some type of prevention education, like many universities, prior to the start of classes to help our new freshmen adjust to life away from home, living on a college campus. We covered several campus services during New Student Orientation sessions,&quot Branch said.  &quotThis week includes performances by a magician, a comedian and the first student body meeting on Friday. Students can select any of these events to attend but we emphasize the importance of having balance in their lives— placing academics first.&quot  The first convocation for freshmen is scheduled for 6 p.m. on September 28 in the Mickey L. Burnim Fine Arts Center. The public is welcome to attend.  See photos from the Student and Family Appreciation Day: CLICK HERE photos appear courtesy of Von Wellington