As another summer fades into the rearview mirror, Winthrop University aims to begin the fall semester on a high note. As in years past, the university is beginning this fall semester with a week full of exciting events, planned by the DiGiorgio Student Union, running from Aug. 21 to Aug. 29.
The team behind this year’s Welcome Week aimed to “engage Winthrop students with a variety of entertaining and interactive events as they begin the academic year,” Director of Campus Programming Angelo Geter said.
While this is something DSU hopes to accomplish every year, Geter said, “it is especially important this year because last year we weren’t able to have Welcome Week in the traditional sense. Therefore, we are determined more than ever to start the school year off with a bang.”
Ironically, while Geter hopes to begin with a bang, the first event in the Welcome Week lineup is the “Headphone Disco” on Aug. 21 at 8 p.m. on Campus Green.
This event, a staple of the Welcome Week festivities, allows students to enjoy the music of two dueling DJs by way of wireless headphones. This setup creates a completely silent party, allowing those attending to have fun to their hearts’ content without disturbing the rest of campus with loud music.
The next night, students can return to Campus Green at 9 p.m. for the first event incorporating this year’s Welcome Week theme, Heroics, with “Heroics 101: Laser Tag.” Students can come out and compete against their friends in exhilarating battles.
Following convocation, Aug. 23 will host another return to Campus Green at 3:30 p.m. for “Once An Eagle Always An Eagle.” According to the DSU events website, this event will have “treats, giveaways, novelties and an awesome Bungee Trampoline to help you fly like a superhero.”
For fans of comedy routines, DSU has got you covered as well. Tuesday, Aug. 24 will see New York-based comedian Matteo Lane stopping by Tillman Auditorium at 8 p.m. for a night full of laughs. This event will also count as a cultural event.
“Heroics 101: Agility Course” will offer students the chance to show off their superhero skills back on Campus Green on Aug. 25 at 6 p.m. This ninja-style obstacle course will be set up to allow students courageous enough an opportunity to test their speed, agility and strength.
The next night at 8 p.m., students can return to Tillman Auditorium for a live performance by Winthrop alum and current contestant on “America’s Got Talent,” singer/songwriter Ray Singleton. Singleton will be joined by a live band to fill the auditorium with music and attendees with amazement.
Welcome Week will close out with a showing of James Gunn’s “The Suicide Squad” on Aug. 28 and a cultural event entitled “Drums of Polynesia” on Aug. 29.
According to the DSU page on winthrop.edu, the latter will showcase “the traditional Polynesian culture through dance, acrobatics, fire eating, polynesian dress, music and MORE!” Both events will take place at 8 p.m. on their respective days at the Amphitheater.
While all of these events are fun and exciting, some students will likely still be concerned about the looming global pandemic.
“We are abiding by the University’s COVID event guidelines and protocols,” Geter said. “That includes requiring attendees to wear masks, social distancing, sanitizing supplies/equipment and asking students to be aware and safe.
“These are the same protocols we abided by last academic year as well, so we are familiar with cultivating an environment that is fun but also safe.”
Each Welcome Week event will cost students $5 and the general public $7, with the Welcome Week movie being $3. Alternatively, for those interested in multiple of the events above, students can purchase a Welcome Week pass for $10 while non-students pay $20.
Students can also buy the All Access Pass for $20 and receive admission to all DSU events for the year, in addition to those held during Welcome Week.
Tickets and passes can be purchased online at DSU’s section of the Winthrop University Marketplace Mall website.
These future events, according to Geter, include “bubble soccer, an event featuring food from other cultures, our annual Drag WU drag show, petting zoo, movie events and much more.”
“We have a lot of big and exciting things lined up this year,” Geter said. “We’d love to see students come out.”
