VCU Greets Students with Welcome Week Activities: New Spirit Walk on Tap

By Tom Gresham

Virginia Commonwealth University kicks off "Welcome Week" to launch the 2008-2009 academic year.

"Welcome Week" is a series of activities that run Saturday through Aug. 24 and are designed to welcome new and returning students to the university.

This year, "Welcome Week" will feature the "Ram Spirit Walk," a new event for alumni to welcome and support VCU's incoming class. The event, which will be held on Aug. 19 at 3 p.m. in MonroePark, will open with a pep rally for alumni, staff and students. A local high school marching band will then lead the group to the New Student Convocation at the Landmark Theater, where Kenji Yoshino, author of the university's 2008 Summer Reading Program selection, "Covering: The Hidden Assault on our Civil Rights," will be the keynote speaker.

Also new to "Welcome Week" is the introduction of a university-wide service project. From Aug. 16 to Sept. 5, the "Welcome Week" committee will encourage VCU students, faculty and staff to fill collection boxes on both campuses with school supplies for two Richmond public schools, Carver Elementary School and Maymont Elementary School.

Other "Welcome Week" highlights include a basketball tournament, a block party featuring free food and entertainment, library tours, various academic department gatherings, salsa dancing, safety seminars and the Student Organization and Volunteer Opportunities Fair.