BYU NewsNet - Opening Socials Welcome Students Back to Campus

The abrupt change from home to residence hall, complete with roommates, can be a difficult transition as students adjust to college life.

But seasoned veterans and management of student residence halls are proposing fun for the big transition.

To begin the year with a grand entrance, the four on-campus housing areas are holding their opening socials for residents.

Friday, Sept. 8, 2006, Wyview Park will have a barbecue from 7 to 11 p.m in the cul-de-sac between buildings 9, 10 and 11.

In anticipation of next year's demolition, Deseret Towers has chosen a "Grand Finale" theme, celebrating tonight with a "Time Warp" dance and activities from 7 to 11 p.m. Each hall's residents will arrive costumed, highlighting a particular decade, from the Roaring '60s through the Decadent '90s and beyond.

But these socials are not merely something for the residents to do on a Friday night because they might be bored; the activities have a purpose.

"We try and base our activities and programs on development of the residents," said Paul Barton, general manager of Single Student Resident Life. "The purpose of these opening socials are to meet the residents' need for connections, finding friends, associating with people, and explore resources."

While attendance isn't mandatory, being there is important.

"These socials are vitally important," said Jay Brown, resident halls manager at Deseret Towers. "These activities will get people out of their rooms...Sure there's stuff on campus for them to do...but this is their home, and it's like a welcome home party."

Tonight's activities are only the beginning. Throughout the year, the residents will be engaged in one activity or another, Barton said, including floor activities and programs resident assistants will host monthly to meet the needs of the students living on their floor.

"We do programming to give residents the full BYU experience and so they can develop and become better individuals. They grow not only spiritually and academically, but physically and mentally as well," said Sarah LaBarge, second-year resident assistant in Wyview.

Next weekend, Helaman Halls will be "Kickin' it Off with BYU" at the Helaman pavilion and pool on Friday, Sept. 15, 2006, from 7 to 11 p.m. There will be a dance in the pavilion and games around it. The pool will be the stage for a belly flop contest, with prizes for the winners. Also, residents need to come dressed and painted up for the BYU spirit competition that could win them the grand prize of the night.

The "Heritage Cup" will also take place Friday from 7 to 11 p.m., where the halls will be competing around the Heritage Central Building for prizes and enjoying hamburgers and hot dogs provided by the Morris Center.