Platteville businesses welcome new UWP students during orientation
PLATTEVILLE - A series of events during the four days preceding the start of fall classes at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville will help this year's crop of new freshmen and transfer students adjust to campus and the larger community. Area businesses will get in on the act with several events Tuesday, Aug. 31.
Dubbed "The Ultimate Roadtrip," fall orientation 2004 presents several highlights for the more than 1,100 students new to UWP. It all begins at 8 a.m., Sunday, Aug. 29 when the residence halls open up for new students to move in.
A welcome picnic will be held that afternoon at 4:30 p.m. on the Glenview Commons Patio. UWP Chancellor David Markee and Provost Carol Sue Butts will formally welcome students at 7 p.m. at the Pioneer Activity Center with the playfair icebreaker event to follow.
"It's a way to start them talking, helping them make connections right away," said David Nevins, UWP leadership development coordinator.
A game show event held that night at the Pioneer Student Center at 9 p.m. offers a $300 prize to the winner.
Several orientation events will be held on campus throughout the day Monday, Aug. 30, with festivities that night featuring games and karaoke. The film "Miracle" will be shown at dusk on the lawn area adjacent to Brockert, Pickard and Hugunin Halls, weather permitting.
Tuesday, Aug. 31 will feature the first events to help students get acclimated to the surrounding community. Orientation activities begin at 11 a.m. with a surprise event at the Pioneer Student Center. A picnic in City Park will begin at 11:30 a.m., with the Discover Downtown event beginning at 12:30 p.m., and free pizza at 2 p.m.
Discover Downtown introduces new students to Platteville businesses, and a variety of companies participate in many ways. A scavenger hunt allows students to tour businesses in and around Main Street, door prizes from local vendors will be given away and a mixed bag of discount coupons and free items from a plethora of contributing companies is offered to all new students in attendance.
"We usually have at least 30 or more businesses participating," said Kathleen Polich, administrative assistant, Platteville Chamber of Commerce. "It's not just food and retail business that might appeal to college age students, everyone realizes the impact this has on the economy here. It's a very welcoming thing."
"More businesses are taking part in the events because it's a great opportunity to market what they have to our new students," Nevins said.
Among the restaurants that will be offering free samples of pizza at 2 p.m. are Dominoes, Pizza Ranch and Pizza Hut. Later that evening, Millennium Cinema will offer discounts: new students can see any movie at the midnight showing for only $4, or purchase a movie ticket, soda and popcorn for only $5. Buses will transport new students to and from the location.
On Wednesday, Sept. 1, the day preceding the start of classes, a scavenger hunt begins at 9 a.m., with volleyball and Texas Hold 'Em poker tournaments beginning at 1 p.m. The first 50 students to sign up can also participate in a service project at a site near the Platteville "M." An all-campus picnic supper at the Pioneer Student Center at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday precedes a concert by Canadian country music group Emerson Drive at 6:45 p.m.
Fall classes begin Thursday, Sept. 2. For a listing of complete events during fall orientation 2004, visit the online orientation page (http://www.uwplatt.edu/admission/orientation.html).
Contact: David Nevins, leadership development coordinator, (608) 342-1075, nevinsd@uwplatt.edu
Prepared by: Dan Lehnherr, UWP Public Relations, 608-342-1194, lehnherd@uwplatt.edu
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