Students welcomed back with event

By Nate Swinton

In between the rush to unpack boxes and start hitting the books, Santa Clara students still managed to find time for fun the first weekend back to school during the university's Welcome Weekend festivities.

Welcome Weekend, sponsored by the Welcome Weekend Committee and Associated Students (AS), provided incoming freshmem and all returning students the opportunity to learn about the types of activities offered on-campus as well as to enjoy the final fleeting moments of summer vacation.

Weekend activities included assistance moving into on-campus housing and Get Organized, an informational fair to help settle freshmen into the campus lifestyle. Sunday night's Bronco Kick-off capped the weekend with live music, games, and informational booths where students could find out more about Santa Clara clubs and programs.

"It celebrates the beginning of the year. It's to welcome everyone back," senior Jessica Williams, AS vice-president and one of the weekend's key organizers, said.

More than 20 on-campus clubs had booths at the Kickoff Sunday night, ranging from the Santa Clara Review to the Hawaiian Club. Williams estimated that around 350 students turned out Sunday night and said she was pleased by the mix of classes represented.

"Usually I see freshmen, but tonight we've attract5ed a wide variety of people." she said.

For junior Kristin Love, director of the Santa Clara Community Action Program, Welcome Weekend was a chance to garner interest for her club.

"It's good to get poeple thinking about your organization," Love said.

Senior Kerrie Donovan, director of the Activities Programming Board, agreed. "It's our first real way to connect to freshmen and sophomores. It's a great way to recruit."

Lesser-known clubs echoed much of the same sentiment. Rob Harper, a sophomore and the president of the Cycling Club, said he first gound out about his organization a year ago during Welcome Weekend and stressed the event's importance.

"This is pretty much our only recruiting event," he said.

And the freshman appeared to be biting. Harper said at least 50 people had signed up to be a part of the club during Welcome Weekend.

Freshman Vanessa Garcia and Kim Wood spent part of the night taking each on in giant inflatable sumo wrestling suits but said they also spent time getting to know other greshmen. They both signed up to play on the women's rugby team.

Danielle Parker and Spencer Rand, both freshmen, said they were "just browsing" at the Bronco Kick-off and were also getting to meet new faces.

"It was cool, seeing all the clubs. Everyone was pretty friendly," Rand said.

Added Parker, "it's nice to see people and not be stuck in a room."