UTRGV will host Week of Welcome from Wednesday to Jan. 22, when students will be able to visit info depots, and attend a bash and “Kickback to
the 20’s.”
Lauren Contreras, a program coordinator for Student Life, said info depots will be available from 8 to 10 a.m. Wednesday on both campuses. On the Brownsville campus, info depots will be located on the Student Union lawn, the Main Courtyard, Sabal Hall lawn and the Main north lawn near the Lozano-Banco Bridge, among others.
“There’s about 15 [groups], so far, who have signed up for info depots across the Brownsville and Edinburg campus,” Contreras said.
On the Edinburg campus, info depots will be stationed outside the Student Union, Troxel Hall lawn, the library lobby, the UREC desk and the Visitors Center.
“[The Visitors Center] is actually being adopted by the mayor of Edinburg,” Contreras said. “[Mayor Richard Molina] will be there welcoming students back to the school year, providing refreshments.”
She said the Counseling Center, Office of Victim Advocacy and Violence Prevention and other departments will be there to promote their services
to students.
“This semester, info depots will serve mainly as a refresher to students of what services we offer and events coming up,” Contreras said. “Students will also be able to get refreshments before going to class. We have coffee that will be provided and some kind of food item.”
‘Kickback to the 20’s’
Students can dress up as their favorite “Great Gatsby” character for “Kickback to the 20’s,” which will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday in the Ballroom on the Edinburg campus. In Brownsville, the event will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Jan. 22 in PlainsCapital Bank El Gran Salón.
Contreras said, “Kickback to the 20’s” will include about four casino games: poker, roulette and other minute-to-win-it games. Students can earn tickets for different prizes and have their picture taken in a photo booth.
“Students will be able to come out, play those games, get food, listen to some music and just have a good time,” she said.
Contreras also said the prizes will be similar to last year’s.
“Last year, some of the prizes included movies, different gift cards,” she said. “They were different bundled gift baskets.”
Each campus expects about 200 students to attend.
Back to School Bash
The Week of Welcome Back to School Bash will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday on the Student Union lawn on the Brownsville campus. The bash will also take place from 4 to 6 p.m. Jan. 24 on The Quad in Edinburg.
The Student Union, University Recreation and the Campus Programming Board are collaborating to create the Back to School Bash. The Union will host its traditional campfire bash during the event.
CPB will provide some attractions, including a human-sized foosball.
Student organizations will conduct fundraisers during the bash. Contreras said students should bring cash if they want to buy items that organizations are selling.
‘“Kickback to the 20’s’ will be more table games,” she said. “And Back to School Bash will have more carnival-field games, so they’ll be more interactive, more participants in one game versus just a board game or poker game, which is limited to how many people can participate at one time.”
