NSU is kicking off the start of the semester with a series of events coined Weeks of Welcome (WOW) from Aug. 19 to Sept. 5 on the main and regional campuses.
“If you’re a freshman and you don’t really know anyone yet, [these events] are the perfect opportunity to meet people,” said Michaela Johnson, sophomore marine biology major. “The entire school goes to all these events; they’re just a lot of fun.”
WOW’s signature events Waterworks, Sharkapalooza and the Labor Day Pool Party will be returning.
“Waterworks is a welcome back party for sophomores, juniors and seniors and a welcome party for freshman,” said Alex Lopez, sophomore marketing management major and campus entertainment director for SGA. This year, SGA will be bringing back paint, inflatables and the fire hydrants from last year’s Waterworks. Lopez said that the event is a fun way for students to start the new school year.
At Sharkapalooza, all of the university’s organizations come together to represent themselves to students. The event typically includes multiple performances from Greek organizations and giveaways from local vendors.
Daesha Roberts, senior business administration major and traditions chair for SEA board, plays a large role in WOW, which includes planning Sharkapalooza. She said that many of the vendors who gave away prizes last year are returning to the event, and that one of this year’s prizes include a car, provided by Rick Case. Some returning vendors include Burger Fi, Tropical Smoothie, Jimmy John’s and Tijuana Flats.
Sharkapalooza will also feature a preview of Homecoming, which will take place on Nov. 5, and will have an Olympic theme.
Shannon Booker, assistant director of Campus Life and Student Engagement, said WOW events will feature a lot of variety and uniqueness because individual offices have planned their own events.
“The goal for this year with expanding [WOW] to two weeks was to take it beyond the Campus Life office,” Booker said. “In previous years it was the Campus Life office planning events and reaching out to different offices and departments to join our event but we said, ‘Let’s have these offices take ownership of their event and create the experience for students that they want to see.’”
Some new events sponsored by individual offices are Coffee and Conversation, where students will meet with the Office of International Students and Scholars and the Tutoring and Testing Center, and a breakfast social where students will enjoy a meal with members of the Tutoring and Testing Center.
Roberts said she’s also excited for the first SGA beach day planned for Aug. 27.
“I know a lot of students take the Shark Shuttles to go to the beach on the weekends. I think it’s awesome that we’re going to try and get our own spot [and] it’s like the Sharks are at the beach,” Roberts said.
Transportation will be provided to and from the beach via Shark Shuttle and SGA will be giving away 100 towels throughout the event. Lopez said that SGA will be looking for students wearing Shark gear for the giveaway.
Both Booker and Roberts said they encourage students to come to as many WOW events as they can.
“They should definitely attend the events. WOW is basically a series of events that we like to put together in order for students to get acclimated with the university, to give them a better sense of Shark pride and basically to give them the opportunity to get involved. See what the campus has to offer in terms of clubs and organizations, different [campus] offices, just Shark pride in general [and] athletics. There’s so many different things that will be made available to students if they come out,” Roberts said.
Booker said that two events have been planned for almost every day during WOW. He also explained that Campus Life and Student Engagement kept in mind that not every event will appeal to all students, which is why they planned such a variety of events.
“We try to have events throughout the two weeks that can touch every aspect of student life [and will] draw the students out to get engaged,” Booker said.
For more information on WOW events visit nova.edu/wow/events/fortlauderdale
PHOTO CREDIT: D. ROBERTS
