First Weekend | Photo by Arden Reimer | The Wright State Guardian
After Operation Move-In, Wright State hosted multiple days of events for students to learn more about campus, meet new people and participate in fun activities.
Thursday
After move-in, the First Weekend events started with Take Off on the North Lawn, where students engaged in a variety of different activities together, including a large bubble-blowing station. The women’s soccer team also played against Southern Indiana at Alumni Field and won 2-1.
The first ever Party at BART-y, formerly Party in the Woods, was under the large red sculpture on campus, “Turning Points,” where students danced until midnight, and the Greek organizations chanted.
Ian Pabon Gonzalez, Morale Caption for Miracle Makers and First Weekend Leader, loved this event out of the whole weekend after being able to dance and connect with friends again after summer break.
Kalli Koppin, a sophomore Residential Assistant, also enjoyed this event.
“It was just really fun to talk to a lot of different people and overall was a really great time,” Koppin said.
Friday
Friday started off with welcoming remarks from WSU President Dr. Sue Edwards and a cookout.
The rest of the day consisted of informational sessions, the Student Organization Expo in the Student Union, movie night with “Monsters University” and popcorn, silent disco and karaoke hosted by the Women’s Center and a bonfire at Saint John Bosco Chapel.
Saturday
The events on Saturday included Operation Native Plants, drop-in hour with involvement mentors, the Latino Center welcome taco lunch, a boba break, self care stop-in, comedian Jonathan Burns and the Student Union After Dark 70s Rewind.
A lot of students really enjoyed the 70s Rewind event, where students roller skated, played mini golf, tie-dyed socks, danced, took pictures, swam, rock climbed, ate and participated in a raffle.
“I like all the music and the different activities they have going on,” senior Shannon Cerruti said.
Cerruti also expressed that this year, the Student Union After Dark event was more crowded with a wider variety of things to do.
Sunday
First Weekend culminated with Project Linus in the Student Union, where students made blankets for children in need, and the Campus Recreation mud volleyball tournament.
Freshman Rylie Jeanneret commented on First Weekend overall.
“It was really fun getting to meet new people, and it gave me a new outlook on campus,” Jeanneret said.
Koppin expressed that this year's First Weekend seems to have had a bigger turnout and more effort put into the events as a whole. To both new and returning Raiders, First Weekend events helped students make friends on campus, get acclimated to being around a lot of people and learn how to get involved.
