Youngstown State University is once again ringing in the new school year with Welcome Week — meaning the campus will be dotted with a variety of festivities Aug. 16-30, courtesy of YSU Student Activities.
The events began on Saturday with the official opening of the campus bookstore, housing move-in, the Youngstown Spanish Heritage Festival and life-size Jenga with a pizza party that followed.
Carrie Anderson, the assistant director for YSU Student Activities, said that this year’s Welcome Week is more exciting than ever.
“We always have our standbys that happen each year,” Anderson said. “For example, the Kilcawley Center Block Party on the first day of school. We’re really excited because Pepsi is new to campus and they are bringing … different samplings to campus. [At the Student Organization Fair] on Thursday, we have 74 different student organizations that are going to participate from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., along with a caricature artist and a photo booth, so students can mingle with people also.”
In addition to the events that occur every year, like the move-ins and help stations, there are several new activities that are making their first appearance at Welcome Week.
Erin Driscoll, the director for YSU Student Activities, said that in addition to the multitude of festivities taking place on campus, YSU Student Activities is extremely excited to be able to bring the paint party Life in Color to YSU students on Aug. 30.
“Life in Color is an international touring company that has visited cities all over the world. They bring the whole program to you. I think of it as a Color Run meets a dance party,” she said. “It’s gallons and gallons of paint that’s sprayed on the audience. It’s primarily Electronic Dance Music that will be played and black lights and lasers … it’s just a big party with a lot of color thrown in as well. They’ve sold out shows in Columbus and Cleveland, so it’s a big deal that they chose to come to Youngstown.”
Students will be able to get a discounted rate for Life in Color tickets at certain Welcome Week events and at the Covelli Center box office with a student ID.
“It’s really an awesome opportunity to be able to partner with Covelli and offer tickets at a discounted rate. There will be three days on campus where students can get discounted tickets,” Driscoll said. “You can get the tickets for $20 at Covelli with your student ID or at the campus Rec party on Aug. 21, at Build-a-Penguin on Aug. 22 and in Kilcawley center on Aug. 27. If students have $20 in hand, they can purchase a ticket.”
Different activities will take place on campus every day until Aug. 30, when Welcome Week officially ends with the Life in Color party.
All of the events, their times and locations are available online at the Student Activities homepage or in the “Welcome Week 2014: Penguin Palooza” booklet that can be found all around campus.