Broncs go bananas for Welcome Week festivities
By Jasmine White
Students, faculty and families kicked off their return to Rider University during the Broncs’ annual Welcome Week, with the goal of getting all returning and incoming students more acclimated to Rider’s tight knit community early on.
On Aug. 31, new and returning students unpacked and moved into their dorms, awaiting all the fun events planned by the Student Government Association.
It is a tradition that every new Bronc has the opportunity to experience their “first night out” on the campus green and in Cranberry’s, hosted by 107.7 The Bronc.
Micayla Hutchings, freshman musical theater major, was filled with energy while mingling with her peers on the green.
“The students here are magnificent!” Hutchings chuckled. “They are so welcoming, so cordial, so friendly, so energetic and it just gets you energetic as well.”
Lyra Sales, who is also a freshman musical theater major, dressed in her Rider apparel, showing off her school pride.
“Everyone here is so amazing and welcoming, and all the people who are higher years than us have just been so kind and helping us out with anything we need and it’s been amazing,” Sales added.
On Sept. 1, fraternities and sororities gathered in the residence quad and hosted a barbeque. They had a large turn out and members of Greek life from neighboring colleges, such as The College of New Jersey, made an appearance. Though Rider’s Greek community on campus is only about 14% of students, those involved in the larger community make up for it.
Cranberry Craze, one of the required events for new students, happened on Sept. 1 on the campus mall, providing a raffle drawing and plethora of games and music, courtesy of 107.7 The Bronc. Hundreds of students attended, meeting new people and making new friends as the celebrations went on.
The Student Government Association Vice President, Cassaundra Alicea, senior communications major, highlighted the biggest events on the welcome week calendar.
“Something new we are doing is combining Broncapalooza and Cranberry Fest,” Alicea said. “We’re going to have at least 90-something different clubs and orgs tabling around the campus mall.”
During the event were food trucks, games and blown-up activities during, welcoming all students, families and friends to enjoy the music and happenings on Sept. 2.
“Rock Fest is going to be on [Sept. 5] at seven on the Campus Green, so it’ll really be exciting stuff,” said Alicea regarding other Welcome Week activities.
Following Rock Fest, R Factor, Rider’s take on “The X Factor,” begins on Sept. 6 in the Yvonne Theater. During this event, students will showcase their musical talents and compete against their fellow Broncs through a two day series.
Alicea encourages the community to come out to as many Welcome Week events as possible.
“It is honestly a really great way to meet new faces,” Alicea said. “There’s going to be so many people all out in the same space, and you kind of get a greater feel for things that get you involved on campus.”
Journey New is social media editor for The Rider News and is the student organizations committee chair for SGA. They had no part in the writing or editing of this story.
