Southern Miss Ready to Welcome New Students for Fall Semester

The University of Southern Mississippi will welcome with open arms freshmen and transfer students for Golden Eagle Welcome Week (GEWW) when they arrive on the Hattiesburg campus Friday to make it their new home.

Freshman Move-in Days are Aug. 19-20, when new students move into Century Park, Wilber (Panhellenic) Hall and other residential facilities. Southern Miss administrators, faculty, staff and upperclassmen as well as members of the Hattiesburg community will be on hand to welcome these students as they move in to their residence hall rooms.

“Freshman move-in days are always a highlight of our year. We will welcome a large and talented freshman class to campus Friday and Saturday as they move in to the residence halls,” said Dr. Joe Paul, Vice President of Student Affairs. “There will be plenty of faculty, staff, student and community volunteers there to greet and assist new students and their families, and then the freshmen will roll into Golden Eagle Welcome Week where they will learn our traditions and get to know one another.”

GEWW features a variety of educational and recreational activities designed to help new students at Southern Miss become acclimated to their surroundings, get to know their classmates, faculty, staff and upperclassmen and learn the traditions integral to campus life. Participants receive one hour of academic credit for orientation.

Other highlights of Golden Eagle Welcome Weekend include:

A “mock” Friday Night at the Fountain Saturday, Aug. 20 on Centennial Lawn from 7-10 p.m., sponsored by the Southern Miss Activities Council. Traditionally held the Friday before Southern Miss home football games, this event will include a pep rally beginning at 8 p.m. and feature the Southern Miss Marching Band, the Dixie Darlings, Southern Miss cheerleaders and Southern Misses. Women's basketball, volleyball and soccer team coaches will also be on hand to speak to the freshmen. Following the pep rally at 9 p.m. will be a concert by SMAASH. Food and refreshments will be served.

On Sunday, Aug. 21, new students get a welcome from Southern Miss Head Football Coach Larry Fedora at 6 p.m. at M.M. Roberts football stadium (“The Rock”) followed at 6:15 p.m. by the traditional Painting of the Eagle Walk under the east side of the stadium from 6:15-7 p.m. This fun, team-building exercise helps incoming freshmen bond with their classmates.

For a complete list of GEWW events, online visit http://www.usm.edu/success/first-year-experience-fye-about-us; or for more information, including how you and your organization can help new students moving into their residence halls, call 601.266.6405 or e-mail fyeFREEMississippi