Celebrating a new academic year

Welcome Week starts off Fall 2024 with change

Raquel Cazares/THE RIDER GRAPHIC

UTRGV will kick off the Fall 2024 semester with a later starting time than usual for The Stomp during its Welcome Week celebration, which starts today. 

 The Stomp is an event in which students can gather to have fun and interact with one another, said Cristina Rodriguez, assistant director of Student Activities.

The Stomp will take place from 8 p.m. to midnight Tuesday on the Student Union Lawn on the Brownsville campus and at the same time Thursday outside the University Center on the Edinburg campus. 

The event will have a festive theme with live music and activities, such as face painting, a robot that can draw on people’s faces, laser tag and game tournaments. 

“We’re trying to figure out the few folks that are introverts, the few folks that are extroverts and having different varieties of options,” Rodriguez said. 

She said UTRGV Athletics will show its Vaquero pride with both the UTRGV Men’s and Women’s Soccer teams playing during Welcome Week. 

The women’s team faces off against Southern University at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the UTRGV Soccer and Track & Field Complex and the men will go up against Texas A&M-San Antonio at the same time and place Sept. 4. 

Another event to be on the lookout for is UTRGV Day, which marks the university’s ninth anniversary celebration, according to Rodriguez.

Students and faculty can obtain a “one-of-a-kind” T-shirt and receive desserts and beverages Wednesday from:

–8:30 to 10 a.m. in the University Ballroom on the Edinburg campus

–11 a.m. to noon in the Rio Bank building located at 701 E. Expy. 83 in McAllen

–noon to 1 p.m. in the Clinical Education building on the Harlingen campus

–2 to 3:3o p.m. in the Student Union PlainsCapital Bank El Gran Salón on the Brownsville campus.

The Office of International Student Services will host the International Meet and Greet, a parade across campus where students carry 60 flags representing different countries. 

The meet and greet will begin at 11:45 a.m. Sept. 4 on the lawn outside the University Ballroom on the Edinburg campus and at the same time Sept. 5 on the Main Courtyard on the Brownsville campus. 

Students who want to learn about the different facilities and programs involved with the university can enjoy Late Nite, Rodriguez said. The event allows students to not only interact with the different programs but also to communicate with others with similar interests.

Late Nite will take place from 9 p.m. to midnight Sept. 5 in the University Recreation Center on the Edinburg campus. 

Info Depots across both campuses will provide information on programs, jobs and organizations throughout the week. 

Raul Leal, program coordinator for Student Activities said Welcome Week can help upperclassmen in student organizations and associations build a community with the incoming students.

“[Students] have the opportunity to meet student organization leaders, student organizations and there is so many different orgs on our campus that report through the Center for Student Involvement,” Leal said.

Rodriguez said Welcome Week gives new students a small taste of the university and a chance to explore different opportunities. 

She encourages students to bring their student IDs with them when participating in these events.

“That’s what our university is all about,” Rodriguez said. “It’s that sense of belonging, building relationships and friendships and, especially, memories in your college years.”