With students back on campus and classes in full swing, Marquette University Student Government and Late Night Marquette invite students to ease into their academics this Thursday through Saturday during Welcome Back Weekend.
Formerly known as Winter Flurry, Welcome Back Weekend consists of three nights of events, carrying on a more than 20-year-old tradition.
Students can participate in a night of rollerskating on the Annex Court as part of Rollin’ into the New Year, which kicks off the weekend Thursday at 8 p.m. Hosted by the MUSG Program Board, Rollin’ into the New Year is new to the Welcome Back Weekend lineup, taking the place of the usual snow tubing trip, Pammy Levinson, graduate assistant for campus activities, said in an email.
The weekend continues Friday with Night of Comedy in the Weasler Auditorium from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. The event will feature six Marquette student comedians. This year, professional comedian and 1992 Marquette College of Communication alumnus Eric O’Shea will emcee the event.
Joe Smith, a senior in the College of Arts & Sciences, is one of the Late Night Marquette program assistants who helped put together Night of Comedy. He said he loves the amount of student involvement in the event. Smith said he is excited to see O’Shea on stage and can’t wait to see the crowd.
Welcome Back Weekend will come to a close with Rewind 2000s: Back to School Bash, taking place Saturday from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. It will be held in the Alumni Memorial Union Ballrooms. In past years, the weekend’s closing event has been a formal dance known as Snowball, but this year the dance will take on a more relaxed feel.
“We wanted to do something new to create our own tradition,” said Alexis McClain, a sophomore in the College of Communication and a Late Night Marquette program assistant, adding that the dance party approach will help to create a fun and friendly environment. Students can also expect plenty of 2000s-themed snacks and a live DJ, said Kaytriauna Farr, a junior in the College of Arts & Sciences and Late Night Marquette program assistant.
With the move away from a formal dance, Rewind 2000s welcomes — but does not require— students to don their best 2000s attire or dress up as their favorite 2000s celebrity or cartoon character, Farr said. She said students can vote on the best costume and the winner will receive a prize. McClain said the costumes are a fun way to get students involved.
“Welcome Back Weekend is about getting back to campus and kicking the year off with something that isn’t just academics,” McClain said. She said she is looking forward to watching everyone have fun and get back together with their friends.
However, Welcome Back Weekend isn’t just for returning students.
“With transfer students coming in, (Welcome Back Weekend) is a good way for them to get involved since they don’t have orientation,” Smith said.
In her second year working on Welcome Back Weekend, Farr said she is excited to see the growth in creativity. She said the weekend is important because it is open to everyone, which offers students a chance to socialize with others across campus.
“Welcome Back Weekend is important to kick off the semester on a high note and welcome students back to Marquette,” Levinson said in an email.
Each event is free and open to all Marquette students. There is no pre-registration, but student IDs are required.
