Welcome Week greets freshmen

Everyone remembers the first time they arrived in Bloomington for what seemed like the ultimate blind date. But for students brand-new to IU's campus and with no idea what to do, there's Welcome Week to help them feel more at home.\n"Welcome Week is about connecting students with the life of this campus, academically and socially," said Melanie Payne, associate director of orientation programs at IU. "It's mostly about introducing that in a fun way so they can make this campus their own and start adjusting to it so that it's a place where they can do well."\nWelcome Week's big kick-off is the Freshman Induction Ceremony at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. Wednesday at the IU Auditorium, an event for new students and their families, said Payne.\n"It's like graduation in reverse, where students are inducted into the class of '09, presided over by President Adam Herbert and (IU-Bloomington Interim Chancellor Ken) Gros Louis," Payne said. "It's our ceremonial welcome, a tradition that goes back to 1933."\nThe sixth annual CultureFest, which is at 4:30 p.m. Thursday in the IU Auditorium, is another one of the week's highlights.\n"Induction is the ceremonial aspect, Traditions and Spirits is the spirited one and CultureFest is the celebration of the people," Payne said. "It celebrates the diversity that we have here, and kind of challenges us to share ourselves with others and get to know other people."\nBesides the week's bigger attractions, there are also smaller events. Friday is a day of open houses, fairs and free food around campus. The student employment job fair will be held in Alumni Hall in the Indiana Memorial Union. RecFest, in Woodlawn Field, is an introduction to club sports through the Division of Recreational Sports. Traditions and Spirits is the loud event, where students have a chance to learn the fight song and get into the spirit of IU. "Midnight Madness" begins at 10 p.m., with buses picking up students from the residence halls and taking them to various stores for last-minute shopping. \nTaste of the IMU, a new addition to Welcome Week this fall, is from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. at the IMU.\n"It will be like a big open house," said Payne. "There will be an outdoor movie in Dunn Meadow, a rock-climbing wall, live bands, karaoke, henna tattoo artists and just lots of entertainment, activities and food."\nPayne encourages Hoosier students new and old to take part in Welcome Week's various festivities -- they aren't just for freshmen.\n"While we may be teaching new students traditional cheers that upperclassmen might know already, it's about reconnecting and is more than just a welcome," she said.\nMonday and Tuesday, returning students, faculty and administrators wearing bright red "IU Guide" T-shirts and armbands posted in high student traffic areas will help direct students and answer questions. Campus maps will be available.\n"Students should participate in Welcome Week events because if they do they'll meet people, get to know campus better and know opportunities," Payne said. "And really if they do that, IU's going to start to feel like home, and that's really what it's all about."\nOrientation schedule of events booklets can be picked up at various residence halls and events are also listed at the Office of Orientation Programs' Web site, www.indiana.edu/~orient/welcomeweek.