CONTACT: Julie Navejar
kajam03@tamuk.edu or 361-593-2590

Aloha Students, It's Welcome Week at TAMUK

Comedian Vic Henley

KINGSVILLE (August 9, 2002) — The greeting for the week will be "Aloha" when students head back to school at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. There are various activities scheduled for Welcome Week, which is planned each year through the Office of Student Activities. This year's theme, following the orientation theme, is "Aloha."

Students moving into their residence halls Saturday, Aug. 24, will be greeted by lots of helping hands as volunteer faculty, staff, students and alumni turn out to welcome the new residents, and assist them in carrying their luggage and other items into their new homes. Residence hall check-in continues from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

If the students and their families need a lunch break during move-in day, a welcome luncheon will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Turner-Bishop cafeteria.

After getting settled, students are invited to attend the welcome dinner from 5 to 6 p.m. in the Tejas Room of the Student Union Building. University officials and student leaders will greet the students.

After dinner it is time to party at the pool in the Steinke Physical Education Center. The pool party is from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. and it is sponsored by Alpha Kappa Alpha and Phi Beta Sigma.

Students may want to begin Sunday, Aug. 26, by attending one of the devotional services held on or near campus. A schedule will be provided on move-in day.

Brunch will be served in the Tejas Room from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Students will need their meal card for brunch. Dinner also is served in the Tejas Room from 5 to 6:30 p.m.

Residence hall students will attend orientation from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Students will be introduced to the staff who will assist in the residence halls and be given an overview of the rules and regulations of on-campus living.

Students can get to know each other at a karaoke night from 7:30 to 9 p.m. in ballroom A of the Student Union Building. After that, the movie "Sorority Boys" will be shown at 9 p.m. in room 100 of the Biology Earth Sciences building. Karaoke is sponsored by the All Greek Council and the movie is sponsored by the Campus Activities Board.

With the first day of classes, Monday, Aug. 26, comes the second annual Javelina Spirit Day. Everyone in the campus community is encouraged to wear a favorite A&M-Kingsville shirt. Offices around campus are invited to get involved in the decorating contest and show Javelina spirit. This activity is sponsored by the university cheerleaders.

After classes are over, a program called Double Vision will be held from 7:30 to 10 p.m. in ballroom A of the Student Union Building. Double Vision is an awareness program that gives participants the ability to explore gender roles and issues that surround gender roles, including alcohol, peer pressure and sexual assault. There will be prizes, including a book scholarship.

Comedian Vic Henley, co-author of the You Might Be a Redneck books, performs at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 27, in the Student Union Building courtyard. He has performed with Dennis
Miller, Dana Carvey, Curtis Mayfield and Brooks and Dunn. Henley is also a former VH-1 veejay.

The fun continues as dinner is served at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 28, in the ballrooms in the Student Union Building. Comedian Bernie McGranahan performs during the meal. Dinner also will be served in the Tejas Room.

The Student Government Association will sponsor the Lantana Luau from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 29, outside on University Boulevard. Student organizations from across campus will be available to discuss their groups. There will also be a spirit rally and a performance by The Reely Rotnz, a local group.

Members of the Kingsville business community also will be at the Lantana Luau to inform students about their products. Traditional luau food will be served. In case of rain, the luau will be held in the Steinke Physical Education Center.

Welcome Week comes to an end Friday, Aug. 30, with the movie "Panic Room" being shown at 7 and 9:30 p.m. in room 100 of the Biology Earth Sciences Building and a Welcome Back Dance from 8 p.m. to midnight in the ballrooms of the Student Union Building. Admission to the movie is free with a valid A&M-Kingsville identification card and admission to the dance is $5.

The movie is sponsored by the Campus Activities Board and the dance is sponsored by Theta Phi Alpha.

For more information on Welcome Week activities call 361-593-2760.

-TAMUK-