Release date: Aug. 19, 2004
Contact: Deb Hammacher, Associate Director, University Media Relations,
at 404-727-0644 or deb.hammacher@emory.edu

Emory Welcomes Back Students With Fun and Intensive First Week

Following is a listing of first week activities at Emory University that offer ample opportunities for back-to-school images beginning Saturday, Aug. 21 with move-in day for residence halls. Emory President James Wagner also will be on hand to welcome students and parents to campus during his address at 5:15 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 21.

Another feature this year is a tree planting in honor of the Class of 2008 at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 24. In addition to these listed events, there are dinners, cookouts, pizza parties, dessert receptions and barbecues that will be presented by a variety of different student groups nearly every evening of the first week. For further information on covering any of these events, call Deb Hammacher at 404-727-0644.

Saturday, Aug. 21
8 a.m. - 3 p.m. RESIDENCE HALLS OPEN
About 1,230 first-year students will move into their residence halls. Fraternity and sorority members run Project Move-In to help first-year students move into their rooms. There are concentrations of student housing off of Asbury Circle across from the Dobbs Center (605 Asbury Circle), and the Turman Center on Haygood Drive (adjacent to Druid Hills High School).

9 a.m. - 2 p.m. INFORMATION FAIR, ORIENTATION CHECK-IN
Woodruff P.E. Center, 500 Asbury Circle
Students can meet representatives from academic departments, student groups, financial aid, Campus Life and other areas.

1 p.m., 2:45 p.m. and 4 p.m. PARENTING A COLLEGE STUDENT: WHAT TO EXPECT
Harland Cinema, Dobbs Center, 605 Asbury Circle
A very popular lecture by Emory psychology professor Marshall Duke for parents of first-year students, these sessions always draw standing-room-only crowds.

5:15 - 6:15 p.m. PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS TO PARENTS
Glenn Memorial Auditorium, 1652 N. Decatur Road
President James Wagner will talk to parents.

6:15 - 8:30 p.m. PICNIC ON THE QUAD
Campus Quadrangle
First-year students and their parents will be welcomed to Emory with dinner, a Coca-Cola toast and a "Poem for the Class of 2008" by English professor Walter Reed.

10 p.m. - 1 a.m. LATE NIGHT AT WOODPEC
George Woodruff P.E. Center, 500 Asbury Circle
A student event featuring free food, prizes and interactive games in the Woodruff P.E. Center, including a chance to scale the rock climbing wall, play basketball, and enter table-tennis, cycling, rowing and step-machine competitions.

Sunday, Aug. 22
8:30 - 9:30 p.m. COMEDIAN DAVID J
Glenn Memorial Auditorium, 1652 N. Decatur Road, Emory
A nationally known comic will perform for the Class of 2008.

Monday, Aug. 23
7 p.m. EMORY'S BEST IN SHOW
Glenn Memorial Auditorium, 1652 N. Decatur Road, Emory
This new event highlights several of Emory's most talented and diverse performers. "Best in Show" combines theater, music, dance and culture.

Tuesday, Aug. 24
4:30 - 6 p.m. OPENING CONVOCATION
Glenn Memorial Auditorium, 1652 N. Decatur Road, Emory
This ceremony for first-year students features welcome remarks by Emory President James Wagner and a procession of faculty in their academic regalia, followed by a reception on the lawn.

6 p.m. CLASS OF 2008 TREE PLANTING
Campus Quadrangle
First-year students will gather for a tree planting in honor of their class of 2008.

7:30 p.m. HYPNOTIST CHUCK MILLIGAN
Glenn Memorial Auditorium, 1652 N. Decatur Road, Emory.
Students are treated to an hour of hilarity and amazement by a popular hypnotist.

Wednesday, Aug. 25
5:30 - 8:30 p.m. VOLUNTEER EMORY SERVICE PROJECT
Volunteer Emory, one of the campus' largest student organizations, will introduce first-year students to community service in Atlanta. Students will head to the East Lake Community Senior Center for a community bingo night, while others will have the opportunity to create and decorate cards for Egleston Children's Hospital.

10 p.m. - 1 a.m. RHA's DJ Pool Party
Clairmont Campus Pool
Starvine Way, off of Clairmont Road
Join the orientation staff and the Residence Hall Association for a pool party to cool down in the summer heat.

Thursday, Aug. 26
FIRST DAY OF CLASS
Classes begin at 8:30 a.m. today for undergraduates.

5 - 7 p.m. McDONOUGH FEST
McDonough Field, beside the Woodruff P.E. Center, 500 Asbury Circle
A campus-wide, welcome-back party for all Emory students featuring interactive games, food and displays from many of Emory's 200-plus student organizations.

7:30 - 9 p.m. SCREEN ON THE GREEN
After McDonough Fest, student can take in a movie on the field.

Friday, Aug. 27
8 p.m. SONGFEST
Woodruff P.E. Center, 500 Asbury Circle
A highlight of the first week, Class of 2008 students of each residence hall show who has the most spirit through this annual singing competition. Parodies and spoofs of popular songs have become a hilarious tradition.

Saturday, Aug. 28
9 - 10 p.m. RATHSKELLAR COMEDY SHOW
Harland Cinema, Dobbs Center, 605 Asbury Circle
A performance by Rathskellar, Emory's student-run comedy improvisation troupe and the oldest collegiate improv troupe in the country.

Emory University is known for its demanding academics, outstanding undergraduate college of arts and sciences, highly ranked professional schools and state-of-the-art research facilities. For more than a decade Emory has been named one of the country's top 25 national universities by U.S. News & World Report. In addition to its nine schools, the university encompasses The Carter Center, Yerkes National Primate Research Center and Emory Healthcare, a comprehensive metropolitan health care system.

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