The University of Connecticut’s brand-new class of freshmen will finally be arriving at the Storrs campus on Thursday, Aug. 21 and Friday, Aug. 22, to be greeted with a jam-packed Weekend of Welcome.
Both days have very similar schedules, with minor differences between the two. If you’re arriving on Thursday, feel free to check out more events on Friday — and for those who will be moving in on the 22nd, don’t worry about missing too much; you’ll have experienced most of it anyway.
Breakfast begins on both days at 7 a.m., lasting until 10:45 a.m. All dining halls will be open on Friday, and, if possible, I highly recommend eating at Whitney. Located in East Campus, Whitney Dining Hall is known for its incredible breakfasts. But be warned: the dining hall is cramped and will likely fill up fast. For those arriving on Thursday, you’ll be a bit more limited, but you can never go wrong with South Dining Hall.
Students will have the opportunity to move in starting at 9 a.m. and going until 3 p.m. on both days. Welcome Tents will be operating from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Fairfield Way, along with a poster sale until 4 p.m. in the same location. Concierge Tents — which will provide additional information about campus — will be operating from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. outside of the Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts and between the Student Recreation Center and West Campus.
Various activities will be held after dinner on the Founders Green. These include firepits, music, food trucks and a movie, hosted from 7 to 10:30 p.m. The movie for Thursday night will be “Inside Out,” followed by “Inside Out 2” the next night.
Students who move in on Thursday will be able to play board games in the Student Union from 8 to 10 p.m. and can watch “Sinners” in the Student Union Theatre, starting at 7:30 p.m.
Friday’s move-in will follow the same schedule as Thursday, with extra events available for students who have already moved in. This includes open houses at both the Homer Babbidge Library and the Benton Museum, both beginning at noon.
Friday will also feature a scavenger hunt hosted by the Residence Hall Association, known as the Husky Hunt. By downloading the app Goosechase and using the password Husky2029, students will complete activities scattered around campus to collect points that can be used to earn prizes.
The Husky Hunt will begin at 10 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 22, and will continue until Aug. 25, the first day of classes. Participants can also enjoy a free breakfast from Lizzie’s food truck, a long-standing UConn institution and a favorite of the students.
At 7:45 p.m. on Friday, the traditional Torch Lighting Convocation Ceremony will begin on the Student Union Mall. Students are asked to leave their bags in their dorms. This will be the only time the entering class will be gathered as one, according to the Convocation page on the UConn website.
Following the ceremony, outdoor festivities will begin and the Student Union Game Room will open, both at 8:30 p.m. At the same time, doors will open at the Jorgensen Center for a comedy show starting at 9 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday, when returning students begin to move in, promise another exciting line-up of events. This includes various meet and greets, poster sales and a kick-off at the Rec Center at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
The Student Union and Student Union Mall will be hosting a variety of events throughout the weekend, from game rooms to craft nights as well as multiple involvement fairs. The Student Union is also the hub for UConn’s cultural centers, each of which will be hosting a welcome event for students.
For those interested in checking out UConn sports, field hockey will be facing off against Northeastern University at the George J. Sherman Family Sports Complex, beginning at 2 p.m. on Saturday. Men’s soccer will be facing off against the University of Massachusetts at the Joseph J. Morrone Stadium at Rizza Performance Center the following day, starting at 7:30 p.m.
The Student Union Board of Governors will also be hosting their annual block party on Fairfield Way at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday. SUBOG promises a DJ, food trucks, games and other exciting activities for the night, lasting until 11 p.m.
This year’s WOW Weekend is chock-full of events, with the complete list available at huskywow.uconn.edu. As always, UConn will continue to roll out brand new events for the rest of the year, so be sure to check the calendars!