Freshmen marched, danced and explored their way through their first weekend as Ohio University students.
OU kicked off Go Green Week with several weekend events geared toward welcoming freshmen.
President Roderick McDavis welcomed students Sunday, capping off a weekend of events.
Freshmen filed into The Convo at 2:30 p.m. for the President’s Convocation for First-Year Students to be formally introduced to the top administrators of the university, a tradition McDavis said he remembered from his first year at the university.
McDavis reminded the new students to keep OU’s five core values in mind and avoid embracing the drinking culture that is sometimes associated with college.
“Community, citizenship, civility, character and commitment — these are the things that should be your guiding light over the next four years,” he said.
Several themes resounded throughout McDavis’ speech as he encouraged freshmen to focus on their academic studies, participate in extracurricular activities and, most importantly, obtain their degrees.
“It might take more time, it might take more effort, but you must achieve at Ohio University — do not leave here empty-handed,” McDavis said.
The annual Go Green week of activities began last Thursday with help from students, faculty and administrators as students moved into their dorms.
“It’s definitely a lot of fun to see the new Bobcats and their families every year,” said Ryan Lombardi, interim vice president for Student Affairs. “It’s great to see the energy of the students who are excited and eager to be here.”
Events throughout the weekend, including Friday’s Bobcat Bash at Baker University Center, Saturday’s Peace, Love, Rec event at Ping Center and Sunday’s Campus Involvement Fair on College Green highlighted various places and opportunities on campus.
“This weekend went very, very smoothly,” Interim Dean of Students Jenny Hall-Jones said. “There was nothing but positive feedback.”
This year was one of the smoothest compared to move-in weekends past, she added.
Concluding the President’s Convocation and Go Green week in tradition, students from the entering class followed the Marching 110 up to College Green and walked through the gate, symbolizing their entry into OU.
Many of the freshmen said they enjoyed the ceremony.
“It was pretty good, and President McDavis basically took us to church,” said Luke Colpo, a freshman studying chemical engineering. “He was a very energetic speaker.”
Sarah Morris, a freshman studying psychology, said she was pleasantly surprised by the ceremony.
“It was all right,” she said. “(McDavis) is awesome — I wasn’t expecting it.”
bv11010@ohiou.edu
