EAST LANSING, Mich. - New and returning Michigan State University students can get to know each other, the MSU faculty and their community at events planned throughout the week of Aug. 21. Freshmen and transfer students will move into their residence halls on Wednesday, Aug. 23, and returning students will begin moving in the following day. Classes begin on Monday, Aug. 28.
The events listed here are just a few of the highlights of Welcome Back activities and events. All events are free unless otherwise noted.
Monday, Aug. 21
- All international students will be welcomed to MSU at a Getting to Know You session beginning at 1 p.m. in B108 Wells Hall. University administrators and International Studies and Programs representatives will attend the festivities. There will be special events for the undergraduate students at 5 p.m. in B108 Wells Hall and at 5 p.m. in B106 Wells Hall for graduate students. For more information contact Rudie Altamirano at (517) 353-1720.
Tuesday, Aug. 22
- A resource and service fair for all international students will be held from 9 a.m. to noon in the lobby of the International Center. For more information contact Rudie Altamirano at (517) 353-1720.
Wednesday, Aug. 23
- University staff, administrators and representatives of MSU organizations and the City of East Lansing will honor parents and other family members who accompanied students to campus at the MSU Parents Open House Reception. There also will be an employment and trade fair for all incoming freshmen and transfer students. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. at the Breslin Student Events Center. For more information, contact Nancy Yeadon at (517) 432-1989.
- First-year students majoring in programs within the College of Human Ecology and their families are the guests of honor at the college's Matriculation Ceremony, which takes place at 5:30 p.m. on the front lawn of the Human Ecology Building. For more information, contact Peggy Lux at (517) 355-7690.
- All freshmen will be attending dinner with the deans, faculty and returning students of their colleges at various sites across campus beginning at 6 p.m. For more information, contact Donald Straney at (517) 432-5125.
Thursday, Aug. 24
- Freshmen orientation sessions will be held throughout the day beginning at 9:10 a.m. at various locations throughout campus. For more information, contact the Office of Orientation and Leadership Programs at (517) 353-3860.
- All new Honors College students will attend a reception at Eustace-Cole Hall beginning at 4 p.m. This year's incoming Honors College class is the largest class since 1974, comprised of more than 420 students. For more information, contact Bess German at (517) 355-2326.
- International students from around the globe will attend the International Student Welcome Dinner from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Crossroads Food Court in the International Center. Approximately 400 new international students will join faculty and staff from the office of International Students and Scholars for dinner and fun activities. Tickets for the dinner are $5 per person and must be purchased in advance in the International Center, Room 201. For more information contact Rudie Altamirano at (517) 353-1720.
- All students and members of the MSU and East Lansing communities are invited to attend a fun and spirited welcome event: the Spartan Spirit Pep Rally 2000. The event will take place at 7 p.m. in Spartan Stadium and is sponsored by the MSU Alumni Association's Student Alumni Foundation, the MSU Bookstore and Bud Kouts Chevrolet. The pep rally is expected to attract between 8,000 and 10,000 new and returning MSU students. College basketball sportscaster Dick Vitale will give the keynote address and football coach Bobby Williams, basketball coach Tom Izzo, hockey coach Ron Mason, women's basketball coach Joanne McCallie and softball coach Jacque Joseph will greet students. Also on hand: Sparty, the MSU Marching Band, MSU Cheerleaders and MSU Motion. Many door prizes will be given out at the rally, including a semester of textbooks, hockey season tickets and basketball season tickets. For more information, contact Bev Vandenberg at (517) 355-6472.
- From 10 p.m. to midnight, students can walk or catch a CATA bus for a late night shopping trip during Midnight Madness. Special discounts will be offered on residence hall room and refrigerator essentials at Meijer, Frandor, Target, Kroger and other stores. For more information, call Student Life at (517) 355-7535.
Friday, Aug. 25
- Campus resource offices will be open from 9 a.m. to noon to talk about their services, including the Department of Student Life, Study Abroad, the MSU Counseling Center, MSU Libraries, the Office of Financial Aid, the Writing Center, the Undergraduate University Division, Olin Health Center and the Learning Resources Center. For more information, contact Student Life at (517) 355-7535.
- A student employment fair will be held from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Breslin Student Events Center. Students will have the opportunity to get information about on- and off-campus employment from MSU representatives and employers from the East Lansing community. For more information, contact the Student Employment Office at (517) 355-9520, Ext. 480, or the Breslin Student Events Center at (517) 432-1989.
- The College of Osteopathic Medicine holds convocation at 2 p.m. at the Wharton Center's Pasant Theatre. This event includes a "Convocation and White Coat Ceremony" in which new medical students are vested with a white coat as a symbol of their entrance into the profession. For more information, contact Pat Grauer at (517) 353-0616.
- U-Fest 2000, at the MSU Union from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., will feature interactive style games and prizes, laser tag, a hypnotist and performances by local artists Domestic Problems, Phil White, Heirs to the Throne and 19 Wheels. For more information, call the Union Activities Board at (517) 355-3354.
- The Campus Center will open its doors to the MSU community from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Music, dancing, games, food and a local DJ will draw students to the International Center. For more information, contact Tami Kuhn at (517) 432-7739.
Saturday, Aug. 26
- Students can learn about more than 200 campus organizations, clubs and government groups at the Party at the Aud Student Organization Fair, which takes place from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the MSU Auditorium. For more information, contact Student Life at (517) 355-7535.
- A live band, inflatable games and prizes are just a few of the things awaiting students at the Campus Center in the International Center from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. For more information, contact Tami Kuhn at (517) 432-7739.
Sunday, Aug. 27
- The College of Human Medicine holds convocation at 3 p.m. at the Kellogg Center, Big Ten A. This event includes a "Matriculation and White Coat Ceremony" in which new medical students are vested with a white coat as a symbol of their entrance into the profession. For more information, contact Ruth Hoppe at (517) 353-5440.
- Spartan Spirit will be shown at the Middlevale Park/Pavillion in Spartan Village from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The event is for Spartan Village apartment residents and their families, athletes and other special gusts, including Sparty, MSU Motion, McGruff the Crime Dog and representatives of the MSU fire and police departments. For more information contact Eduardo Olivo, (517) 353-9499.
Additional welcome events will be held throughout the week of Aug. 28 including: Asian American Welcome Reception at 7 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 28, at the MSU Union, Parlors A and B; Black Student Welcome Reception at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 29, at Auditorium Field; Native American Welcome Reception at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 30, at Lafayette Square; Chicano Latino Welcome Reception at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 31, at Kellogg Center, Big Ten Room; and the Lesbian-Bi-Gay Transgendered Student Welcome Reception and Community Resource Fair at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 7, at the MSU Union Ballroom.