Student Welcome Another Online Event

In a normal year, the office of Student Life and Leadership would be welcoming students to campus for the new academic year with in-person events.

"We usually have a big student welcome out in the courtyard with free food and giveaway items," said Kadisia Archer, who is in charge of the office and all its events.

As everyone knows, the coronavirus pandemic has made 2020 anything but a usual year. However, Archer and the Student Government Association still wants to give students a special welcome this year so they have organized an online Gator Check-in party for 4-6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28.

"It will be kind of like the Grad Bash," Archer said of the virtual event held in May to celebrate the spring 2020 graduates.

Lizz Yimer, SGA president, said this is a good alternative since there are no gatherings allowed.

"It allows students to collaborate and talk about their degree and, hopefully, make friends," she said.

Students will be asked to wear specific colors according to what division they are in (Public Safety, Allied Health and Human Services; Arts, Business, Humanities and Social Sciences; and Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). DJ Hot Rod, of Hampton, the host of the Grad Bash, will have the same role for the Gator Check-in. There also will be a video introducing the SGA president, as well as a slide show on the student clubs and activities at Thomas Nelson.

"It's so the students can see each other and get to know each other, maybe see someone that's in their same field of study," Archer said.

Archer and Yimer are working on a schedule for all student events for the 2020-21 academic year, and hope to have it finalized by early September.

"What we have found, normally during the school year, is the first couple of weeks the students aren't really interested in activities yet," Archer said.