Welcome Weekend

OK, so there wasn't much sand.

But the campus Beach Bash August 31, the penultimate activity in a three-day weekend of events, featured so much to do one might not have noticed a lack of actual beach.

For starters, there was a rock climbing wall, dunk tank and bungee ride. There were volleyball games, face painters, stilt walkers and an inflatable jumping castle. There was a live DJ, free pizza and funnel cakes, face painting, caricature artists and vast opportunities to simply have fun.

"Move-in can be very stressful," said Jason Selvaggio, 21, a senior chemical engineering major from North Brunswick. "The whole point of this is to unwind, have some fun and make a few friends before school starts."

Selvaggio, who as president of Student University Programmers helped plan and run Welcome Weekend events, said more than 500 students joined the Beach Bash festivities alone.

Many hundred more took part in various activities that began with a hypnotist show Sunday morning and concluded Tuesday night with a viewing of Iron Man 2 on a 40-foot screen on the Intramural Field. 

Costantine Alexakos, Assistant Director of Student Activities, said the schedule of events was designed to help ease students back onto campus with a variety of wholesome, fun activities.

"A lot of students are nervous, especially the freshmen," Alexakos said. "These activities help students unwind before the seriousness of classes starts."

Indeed, freshman Jenifer Boone, 17, said the Beach Bash and other activities helped her transition to college life.

"I'm confident but a little anxious," said Boone, a psychology major from Camden.

"I want to help people but I'm not sure what area I want to work in yet," she said.

Freshman Katie Zink, 18, said she was looking forward to getting back into the classroom but was happy, for the time being, just to enjoy the precious last hours of summer break.

"I'm having fun," said Zink, a Spanish/education double major from Marlton. "I've been meeting people all weekend."