University of Connecticut students began to arrive at the Storrs Campus on Thursday, Aug. 27 and continue to today. As thousands of Huskies begin a new chapter in life, UConn’s Weekend of Welcome (WOW) will help make the transition a good one.
WOW is a four-day-long program from Thursday, Aug. 27 to Sunday, Aug. 30, created by UConn’s Department of Student Activities. This article will take you through some of the events WOW offers so you can make the best of this weekend, whether you’re a Husky taking their first steps in college, or returning for another year.
Throughout WOW, there will be welcome tents and a poster sale on Fairfield Way during the middle of the day. At the same time, concierge tents are running from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., providing information about campus resources and field questions. You can find them outside the Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts and between the Student Recreation Center and West Campus.
Students who moved in on Thursday were able to take photos with Jonathan the Mascot and partake in a round of library book bingo at the Homer Babbidge Library before meeting with their WOW leaders to have dinner with their groups.
At Founders Green, a range of activities from firepits, glow swings, music and food trucks were available from 7 to 10:30 p.m. Student’s also participated in board games and craft activities in the Student Union Ballroom. The Student Union also had a showing of “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” in room 303.
Today, you can take part in the annual Husky Hunt, hosted by the Residence Hall Association. The scavenger hunt begins today and runs until the first day of classes. On-campus residents can join through the app Goosechase using a special code and their UConn email.
Furthermore, open houses at the Benton and Homer Babbidge Library will be held during this afternoon where you can learn more about what both buildings offer.
At 7:45, UConn begins the school year with the Torch Lighting Convocation Ceremony, where the entire Class of 2030 will gather on the Student Union Lawn to witness the torch lighting, which you don’t want to miss!
After the ceremony, you can chill in the Student Union Game Room, which is open from 8:30 to 10 p.m., or check out the WOW Comedy Jam in the Jorgensen Center and catch a set from comedians Rachel Scanlon, Sahib Singh and Peter Revello. Doors open at 8:30 p.m. and the event starts at 9 p.m.
Saturday looks to be another jam-packed day of events, and is the first day that returning students can move back in. Starting at 1 p.m., all the Cultural Centers and programs located in the Student Union will hold welcoming events for students, the UConn Muslim Union will host a meet and greet in McHugh and UConn Recreation will host a block party outside the Rec Center.
The Student Union Board of Governors (SUBOG) will host their annual block party at Fairfield Way starting at 7:30 p.m., lasting until 11 p.m. SUBOG promises food, trucks, a DJ and more, according to their Instagram. If you want to catch a movie with friends, the Student Union will be showing “10 Things I Hate About You” in room 303 at 8 p.m.
In terms of events, Sunday is less hectic than the previous two days, as everyone begins preparing for the first day of classes. If you don’t know where your classes are, WOW leaders will lead tours of the campus, beginning at 11 a.m. and starting outside the Student Union.
Speaking of the Student Union, in rooms 316 and 317 you can find therapists from Student Health and Wellness (SHaW) for an informal, confidential chance to talk about the upcoming school year as you transition back to or begin college life. The therapists will meet with students on a first come, first serve basis and will be there from 12 to 3:30 p.m.
Fans of UConn sports can look forward to seeing the UConn men’s soccer team, who will have a two-game home stand at the Joseph J. Morrone Stadium at Rizza Performance Center. First, they played Fairfield University on Thursday at 6 p.m. and the second matchup is against Western Michigan on Sunday at 7 p.m.
These are just some of the events and activities you can get up to at WOW Weekend, but if you want to learn more, don’t hesitate to visit huskywow.uconn.edu for the full schedule. WOW provides a great opportunity to relax from a hectic move-in weekend and recharge your batteries before classes begin, so good luck and have fun Huskies!