NATCHITOCHES – The hustle and bustle of college life will return to Northwestern State University’s campus Saturday as students move in campus residence halls.
Move-In Day (7 a.m.-1 p.m.) kicks off a month-long series of events called “Demon Days,” designed to aid first-year and returning students transitioning back to campus.
A full list of Demon Days activities can be found www.nsula.edu/fye/demondays/.
Once boxes are unpacked, students can pick up textbooks and supplies at the Barnes & Noble Bookstore (9 a.m.-4 p.m.) in Friedman Student Union, get last-minute questions answered at the Student Services Center (10 a.m.-3 p.m.), say goodbye one more time to their high school days with Sweet Tea & Sweet Goodbyes at Iberville Dining Hall and enjoy a family picnic (11 a.m.-2 p.m.).
Students can cap off their first day at NSU with a Welcome Back Bash (7-9:30 p.m.) on Saturday night on the Iberville Green with live music from the Flamethrowers Band complete with donuts and a nacho bar.
Sunday’s highlights target first-year students starting with Destination Demons (Kyser Brickway at 2 p.m.), where more than 100 volunteers will show individual students where their classes are located.
“We talk about what we can do as a small university to add a personal touch, and Destination Demons is a great example of showing new students the family atmosphere we have at Northwestern State,” said Dr. Chris Maggio, vice president for the student experience. “We’re not taking around groups of new students – our volunteers are showing each individual student the different buildings and where their classes will be.”
Following mandatory New Student Convocation (5 p.m.) at A.A. Fredericks Auditorium, students can meet President Dr. Jim Henderson at the President’s Picnic (6 p.m.) on Normal Hill. The Baptist Collegiate Ministry closes the day with a meet and greet (8:30 p.m.) at University Columns. The BCM will have similar events Monday at University Place I, Tuesday at University Place II and Wednesday at the BCM.
On Aug. 22, sophomores can officially kiss their freshman year goodbye with a special breakfast (7 a.m.) at the Orville Hanchey Gallery before attending the first day of class.
Volunteers will be available to aid in class location (7 a.m.-noon) throughout Monday and Tuesday, and an information station (8 a.m.-3 p.m.) will be set up in the Student Union Ballroom to help with logging in to myNSU, meal plans, parking permits, yearbook photos and student IDs. Students can pick up an NSU Survival Pack to cover items that students might have left at home.
The day’s activities continue with a Meet Your Student Government Association Senator Day (11 a.m.-1 p.m.) on the Kyser Brickway and Color Chaos (6-8:30 p.m.) on Organization Row. The chaos will feature barbecue, 250 gallons of paint and the largest water slide in North Louisiana.
On Tuesday, students can trade in T-shirts from other universities to receive a new NSU T-Shirt in the T-Shirt Swap (11 a.m.-1 p.m.).
“This is a fun event that ends with a ceremony where we burn all the old T-Shirts,” Maggio said. “Students can get new NSU T-Shirts while reinforcing school pride.”
Students also get a free round of golf at the NSU Recreation Complex before a Student Activities Board Music & Magic (7 p.m.), which features a magician-illusionist and musical comedian in the Student Union Ballroom.
Wednesday kicks off with a Chillin’ & Grillin’ with the Greeks event (11 a.m.-1 p.m.) on the Kyser Brickway followed by a Moodle & Technology Workshop (1 and 2 p.m.) in the Watson Library. Prime faculty parking is available in Putt for Parking (3-5 p.m.) at the Student Services Center Triangle followed by Glow in the Dark Zumba (7-8:30 p.m.), an 80’s-themed event in the Health & Human Performance Gym.
Students have another chance to attend the Moodle & Technology Workshop (3 and 4 p.m.) before a mixer (5 p.m.) presented by TRIO Student Support Services at the Student Union Ballroom. Come yell in Watson Library (6 p.m.) with music, games and a cookie bar before a Waffle and Coffee Late Night (9 p.m.) at the BCM and a Midnight Cereal Bar in the various residence halls.
Clad in purple NSU attire for Purple Priday, Demons can attend a 1 of 7 Service Kickoff Event (1-4 p.m.) at Collins Pavilion before male students can get to know Greek organizations at the Bowties & Blazers Fraternity Rush Informational (4-6 p.m. at the National Preservation Center) and IFC Open Houses at the various fraternity locations.
The 1 of 7 service concept was developed by NSU alumni Kip Patrick, a renowned world traveler who spends one day per week volunteering in a local village or community.
“Some people might be dedicated to one project like Habitat for Humanity, which is great,” Maggio said. “But this idea focuses on whatever that village or community needs at that particular time.
“Kip might help dig a latrine ditch to painting a school to any number of things.”
NSU’s service event typically draws several hundred students, and this year’s beneficiaries include the Cane River Food Pantry, the St. Augustine Catholic Church and Cane River Children Services.
An international flavor comes to town Aug. 27 with a fiesta (6 p.m.-8 p.m.) at Collins Pavilion featuring live music, salsa dance lessons and a nacho bar.
Students can benefit the Children’s Miracle Network by participating in Battle Bash (2 p.m.), an event featuring life-sized game of Battleship, log rolling and dunk-a-demon Aug. 27 at the NSU Recreation Complex.
On Aug. 30, Demons can learn about the Inernational Student Friendship Program (4 p.m.) at Russell Hall (Room 229) before taking in a free movie (for the first 100 students with student ID) at Parkway Cinema.
Students get their first taste of NSU athletics with a home volleyball match Aug. 31 in Prather Coliseum at 6:30 p.m. before a Speed Friending event (8:30 p.m.) at the BCM.
Female students interested in Greek life must attend Panhellenic Sorority Convocation (7 p.m.) in the Student Union Ballroom on Sept. 1. BCM Walleyball (8 p.m.) is available at the WRAC.
New fraternity members will be celebrated Sept. 2 at Bid Day (12:30 p.m.) on Normal Hill before Demons can hit the road to Baylor (Waco, Texas) for NSU football’s season-opening game at 6:30 p.m. Students staying home can support the NSU soccer team in its first home game against Jackson State at 7 p.m.
The soccer plays again Sunday at 1 p.m. against Texas Wesleyan to wrap up the weekend events.
Students can join the NSU Rowing Team (no experience required) in Sept. 6 meeting in the Student Union Ballroom.
Learn leadership skills in The Experience (6 p.m.) on Sept. 7 before meeting football players, coaches and band members at a night pep rally (8 p.m.) in Turpin Stadium.
Discover NSU’s wide variety of student organizations at Purple Palooza (3 p.m.) on Sept. 8 at the Pitchfork Pass. New students can stay for The Inferno!, where students run onto the football field as part of the pregame festivities before the White Out game against Incarnate Word (6 p.m.).
Other September highlights include The First Year Involvement Challenge (Sept. 13 at 7 p.m. in the Student Union Ballroom), where students can watch a fast-paced simulation of their first year in college; Myths & Legends Tour (Sept. 15, 9 p.m. at The Columns on Normal Hill), where can take a nighttime tour packed with the university’s spooky history; The Demon Dash (Sept. 20 at 5 p.m. in Collins Pavilion), a chance to meet NSU student-athletes while competing in relay games; and the Miss Lady of the Bracelet Preliminaries, the kickoff to the Miss America-affiliated scholarship pageant.
Throughout September, The Wesley will put on multiple Freshley @ The Wesley events, which explores different faith-based topics.
For more information or to view a complete Demon Days schedule, visit www.nsula.edu.