Stars Week events to engage new, returning students

New students will get a chance to attend a variety of events to get familiar with the campus and their peers.

Stars Week is designed to make incoming students feel comfortable by meeting new people and participating in activities. Stars Week is hosted by New Student Orientation leaders, students selected in January to help plan and volunteer for events catered to new students.

Stars Week is Aug. 13-20 and begins with three days of move-ins, where new students bring their personal belongings to their dorm.

Colbi Beam, coordinator of first-year experience, said many of this year’s events will be similar to past years with minor changes. Changes were made to move-ins that should reduce lines and wait time, Beam said.

“One big difference for me is that I have an amazing group of students as NSO leaders this year,” Beam said. “Every year is a little bit different because they have the ability to plan those events, and I’m really excited to see how Stars Week plays out and see how their events go.”

Matriculation Convocation, the ceremony that officially welcomes new students as part of the OCU community, is Wednesday during Stars Week. Art LeFrancois, professor of law, will give the matriculation convocation address in place of President Robert Henry, who is on a medical leave of absence.

Students will have to attend college-specific academic orientations. After the orientations, there will be a new event where students and parents can learn more about where their money is going within the school.

“You can find out what happens to your money, how it’s being used, and parents can feel informed and know that we’re not doing anything crazy with it,” Beam said.

Other events like OCUReads cater to new students, but are open to any students interested in attending. Beam said she would love for students to participate and meet new people.

New Stars Week events include Scooby Doo at OCU, which is a mystery campus tour similar to last year’s CLUE at OCU. Another change include’s another location added to Saturday’s OKConnect, the Oklahoma Historical Center.

Alyssa Peters, acting sophomore and NSO leader, says she thinks of the group as the campus mascots.

“We welcome new students to the OCU campus, answer questions and we pretty much hype them up and get them excited for school,” she said.

Peters said she’s most looking forward to the Scooby Doo event.

“The students will take a tour of the campus while unraveling a mystery with the Scooby Gang, and this will all take place at night,” she said. “Another reason why I am excited for it is because I absolutely love Scooby Doo.”

She said there will be prizes at that event for the winners.

Some of the events include:

Aug. 13

• Honors Lounge Meet & Greet
  from 2-3 p.m in the Honors Lounge in Gold Star Memorial Building.
• Honors Welcome Dinner
  from 5:30-7 p.m. in the caf in Tom and Brenda McDaniel University Center.

Aug. 14

• Commuting to Campus informational session
  from 1-2 p.m. in Shdeed Lounge in Tom and Brenda McDaniel University Center.

Aug. 15

• FIRST Luncheon
  from 12-1 p.m. in Watson Lounge in Bishop W. Angie Smith Chapel. The luncheon is for first-generation college students from the class of 2021 and their families.
• Stars Week Welcome Picnic
  from 5:30-7 p.m. in the caf in Tom and Brenda McDaniel University Center. All students, parents, faculty, staff, and alumni welcome. Students should bring their student ID, but parents and family members eat free.
• Religious Life Block Party
  from 8-9 p.m. in the West Lawn of the Bishop W. Angie Smith Chapel. Students are encouraged to attend and learn about the Wesley Center and OCU’s other religious organizations.

Aug. 16

• Matriculation Convocation Procession
  from 8:30-9 a.m. Students meet at Tom and Brenda McDaniel University Center Patio to prepare for the procession, parents gather at east entrance of the Clara E. Jones Administration Building to view the procession.
• Matriculation Convocation
  from 9-10:15 a.m. in the Kirkpatrick Auditorium in Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center. This ceremony formally welcomes all new students as members of the OCU community.
• Sorority Recruitment Round One: Open House
  from 5:30-11:15 p.m. in the Watson Lounge in Bishop W. Angie Smith Chapel.
• Stars on Bricktown
  from 8-11 p.m. at Bricktown. An OCU Hospitality Tent will be located on the plaza at 150 E. Reno, north of Harkins Theatres. A shuttle will take students from the east side of Methodist Hall parking area every 20 minutes until 10:30 p.m. for those without transportation.

Aug. 17

• First-Year Follies
  from 10-11:45 a.m., in Henry J. Freede Wellness and Activity Center.
• OCUReads Discussion Groups
  from 12-1:15 p.m. in various rooms of Walker Center & Meinders School of Business. Different groups will meet in different rooms. Lunch will be provided.
• Diversity Dialogues
  from 1:30-2:45 p.m. in various classrooms of Walker Center & Meinders School of Business.Different groups will meet in different rooms. Lunch will be provided.
• OCUReads 2017 Author Presents A.D.: New Orleans After the Deluge by Josh Neufeld
  from 7-8:30 p.m. in Petree Recital Hall in Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center. A book signing will follow the presentation from 8:30-9:30 p.m.
• Scooby Doo at OCU
  from 9:30-11:30 p.m. in the Team 1 Pavilion.

Aug. 18

• International Student Orientation
  from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. in the Gardner Conference Center in Meinders School of Business.
• Dancing Like a Star
  from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. in the Edith Kinney Gaylord Center. Ballet or jazz shoes are required, and all majors can attend.
• Blue Out Blow Out Pep Rally
  from 1-2:30 p.m. in Henry J. Freede Wellness and Activity Center.
• Sorority Recruitment Round Two: Philanthropy Night
  from 3:30-9:15 p.m. in the  Watson Lounge in Bishop W. Angie Smith Chapel.
• Game Night with Dulaney-Browne
  from 7-10 p.m. in the Dulaney-Browne Library.
• Open Mic Night
  from 9 p.m. – 12 a.m. in the Shdeed Great Hall in Tom and Brenda McDaniel University Center.

Aug. 19

• OKConnect
  from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. A reservation is required to participate. Participating students will meet their shuttle bus at the Team 1 Pavilion at 10 a.m. to learn about Oklahoma City by traveling to various locations.
• Sorority Recruitment Round Three: Preference Night
  from 4:30-9:15 p.m. in the Watson Lounge in Bishop W. Angie Smith Chapel.
• Capture the Flag
  from 9:30-11 p.m. on the quad.

Aug. 20

• Sorority Recruitment Bid Day
  at 10 a.m. in the Watson Lounge in Bishop W. Angie Smith Chapel.
• Meet the Neighbors: Poolside Hangout
  from 6-9:30 p.m. in Cokesbury Courts Apartments clubhouse and pool.

For a full list of events, click here.