University of Arkansas Fayetteville - Razorback Yearbook (Fayetteville, AR)

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T he Merchants’ Fair gives students the opportunity to register for various prizes. Many students tried to win prizes while loading up with free prizes given by the merchants. There were also quite a few vendors there to give students and passersby free food. [Photo by Susan Rinehart] W hat books do I need? The most dreaded thing for students was to make the trek to the bookstore when school started. Bookstore clerks were there to assist freshmen and seniors alike in finding their books for class. [Photo by Adrai White] L ocal merchants cater to students during the Merchants’ Fair. During Welcome Weeks, local businesses get together to give away free samples and T-shirts and drawings for prizes. Merchants’ Fair serves as a good time for businesses to get their names out on campus. [Photo by Gerald Croson] Welcome Weeks 15

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14 Campus Activities sponsored activities to welcome students. ELCOME WEEKS Returning students hoped to run into old friends, and doing better than the year before echoed in many students’ thoughts. However, there was help to be found: Welcome Weeks’95 was there to provide students with the opportunity to prepare for all aspects of college life. As the end of summer approached, thoughts of beaches and parties were replaced with those of homework and exams. Most fresh¬ men awaited the begin¬ ning of school anxiously. “I was afraid my grades wouldn’t be good enough, and I wouldn’t make any friends,” fresh¬ man Robin Casteel said. Welcome Weeks con¬ sisted of a series of events ranging from reli¬ gious activities to enter¬ tainment activities that the Campus Activities Center coordinated. Ac¬ cording to Assistant Di¬ rector of Campus Activi¬ ties Michelle Etchart, the purpose of Welcome Weeks was to provide a welcoming atmosphere . for all students. “This year we tried to refocus Welcome Weeks and bring in a more academic idea,” Etchart said. The Academic Convocation was one ex¬ ample of an academic idea. The differ¬ ent colleges met at separate locations and proceeded to the Old Main Lawn to form one large group. “I felt the Convocation was effective I t’s permit time! Students race to get in line at Parking Transit before the crowds appear. Parking permits sold like crazy during Welcome Weeks because everyone feared getting tick¬ ets. Unless students parked at the meters or rode the bus, they had to buy permits to park on campus. [Photo by Susan Rinehart] Stacy Symonds because it allowed you to meet your teachers and begin a relationship with them, sophomore Curtis Wright said. Welcome Weeks officially began on August 24 with the opening of the Resi¬ dence Halls and ended on September 2 with the football opener against SMU. Over 5,000 students participated. One of the most highly attended events was the Merchants’ Fair, set up in the Arkansas Union mall. Students received free coupons and food and also registered to win prizes. Some student or¬ ganizations used the Mer¬ chants’ Fair as an oppor¬ tunity to recruit mem¬ bers. “We passed out mem¬ bership applications,” University Programs Per¬ forming Arts Chairper¬ son Tara Austin said. Another event included in Welcome Weeks was “Into the Streets.” This ac¬ tivity gave students an opportunity to help the community by painting a house for a client of Fam¬ ily Support Services in Bentonville. Through all these activities, “Welcome Weeks tried to provide for the physical, spiritual, and emotional needs of each student,” Etchart said. While the smoldering sun provided physical warmth for the students in the beginning weeks of college, the Welcome Weeks activities provided a warmer wel¬ coming. Welcome Weeks

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L ocal band members David Hartsell and Jesse Collett of “Would Be King” perform at the Local Aids Benefit Concert. [Photo by Jason Strange] D espite the chilly weather, spectators enjoyed an afternoon of inspriational music performed by local bands. It was a small price to pay to benefit such an important cause. [Photo by Jason Strange] S inging for a good cause, “Affections” lead singer Allison Williams entertains th e crowd with her music. The concert was a good outlet for local bands to show off their talent. [Photo by Jason Strange] ISIS 16 Local Bands