Slippery Rock’s campus was filled with freshmen and transfer students moving in and out of their dorms on Thursday during freshman move-in and the first day of Weekend of Welcome (WOW).
The point of WOW according to Dr. David Wilmes, the Chief Student Affairs Officer, is to allow freshmen and transfer students the opportunity to become introduced to campus culture.
WOW has been a campus tradition for 20 years and runs from August 22 to September 3.
Wilmes is serving his fourth academic term in this position. Under his position Dr. Wilmes’ office coordinates WOW, including move-in and all other associated weekend events.
“Everything that we do is really a part of showing the new students what Slippery Rock is all about,” Wilmes said.
Volunteers chosen around March helped move-in students, unpacked their vehicles and answered any questions from parents and students.
Wilmes said he enjoyed the happy manner of the students and the energetic volunteers that helped on Thursday.
Throughout WOW, events were hosted Thursday, Friday and Saturday night by the University Program Board (UPB), Greek Life and Emerging Leadership Experience (ELE). Students could join their friends and watch a hypnotist, interact with their neighbors during a paint party outside the student center or relax during Avengers: Endgame.
“WOW is the kickoff of the year,” Wilmes said. “It’s to introduce everybody to how Slippery Rock works and the great things we do.”
Whether students want to have a more laid-back night or an energetic one, Wilmes ensures that WOW has events to suit all student needs.
Planning for WOW started back in the fall semester of 2019, where Wilmes and other staff members involved coordinated the events for the upcoming semester.
Wilmes said that the hypnotist who performs during WOW has received positive feedback and is already booked for the WOW celebration during the fall 2020 semester.
Although WOW has their big events later in the evenings, students follow their schedule for WOW events throughout the day. Events such as “Cookout and Yard Games in the Quad” and “Room Essentials Pop-Up Shop” were available for students.
Friday morning all freshman and transfer students arrived at the field house for convocation, a part of WOW that is in its third year at Slippery Rock.
“All of the incoming students are there so it’s your first real introduction to the university,” Wilmes said.
WOW events occur during the weekend as well, Friday evening from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. is Epic Bingo in the ballroom as well as the Student Government Association (SGA) movie series starting that night.
The events don’t stop at WOW. The fall weekend series, also overseen by Wilmes’ office runs throughout the entire semester and has events going on every weekend, whether on campus or off.
“I have worked at other campuses and I have went to college,” Wilmes said. “I think that Slippery Rock does it really well and does a good job of introducing the new students to Slippery Rock and hopefully they enjoy it.”
Students that want to volunteer for WOW next year during freshman move-in can find forms through social media and via the website during March or April of 2020.
