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Emory ready to WOW undergraduates with welcome activities

EmoryWOW, six weeks of activities to welcome undergraduates back to campus, launches this week. In addition to first-year orientation, sophomores get three days of events and juniors and seniors are invited to a blowout carnival — all before fall semester begins.

A flurry of new and traditional events kick off later this week to celebrate Emory University undergraduates.

Many first-year students move into Atlanta campus housing Aug. 21, with other undergraduates following Aug. 22. Oxford College move-in days are Aug. 20 for first-year students and Aug. 23 for second-year students.

Also on Aug. 22, Emory Weeks of Welcome, or EmoryWOW, launches on the Atlanta campus. As first-year students make their way through traditional orientation week events, sophomores will get three days of events, including their first Coca-Cola Toast and “dive-in” movie, culminating with a cookout on the Quad on Tuesday, Aug. 24.

Juniors and seniors are invited to a blowout carnival party on Clairmont campus Tuesday night, before fall semester begins Wednesday, Aug. 25.

“We want our students to experience the best of Emory and find their community here,” says Heather Mann, associate director of returning student programs. “They will reacquaint themselves to campus while having plenty of opportunities to meet old friends and create new ones, all before classes start.”

EmoryWOW continues for six weeks, to Oct. 1, for new and returning students. First up will be a four-day Student Activity Fair — featuring more than 100 organizations and food trucks and giveaways daily — starting Sunday, Aug. 29.

Emory Campus Life is also developing a regular calendar of Dooley After Dark programs every Thursday through Sunday evening. The plan includes showing first-run and indie movies on campus on Thursdays, bringing different entertainment to campus on Fridays, hosting a sample of food trucks each Saturday and Gateway to Atlanta trips on Sundays.

Early plans include Emory Night at an Atlanta Hawks game and a mobile skating rink on campus, says Natasha Hopkins, associate director of student involvement, leadership and transitions in Campus Life.

“We are going to spice it up so there is always something special going on, every weekend of the semester,” Hopkins says. “We hope the variety and consistency of events will provide students with the opportunity to build community with their peers.”

Students can keep track of events by logging into The Hub. The redesigned website allows students to search events by category and perks (think free food or other giveaways) and includes links to news and student organizations.

Upperclass students will continue to have class-specific events listed in The Hub, including a watch party for Songfest.

“We want our students to develop deep connections, and a buzzing campus environment will help to create them,” Mann says.


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