Purdue News

August 4, 2000 Purdue prepares to welcome students back to campus WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue University will begin welcoming students to its West Lafayette campus next week in anticipation of the start of classes on Aug. 21. Most international students newly enrolled in the Graduate School will start arriving Monday (8/7) for orientation. The first major wave of undergraduates will arrive Aug. 12, when 3,100 first-time students will move into University Residences for the Boiler Gold Rush orientation program. The Purdue "All-American" Marching Band will begin practice Aug. 14, setting the tone for the week when most of the remaining undergraduate students will start moving in. Of the approximately 37,000 students Purdue expects on its West Lafayette campus, about 12,400 undergraduate and graduate students have chosen to live University Residences. The university expects to be able to house all who want to live on campus, said Marvis Boscher, director of University Residences. Boiler Gold Rush, sponsored by the Office of Admissions in cooperation with University Residences, is designed to familiarize new students with the campus and Purdue traditions. Presentations will include information about campus safety, cultural diversity and healthy lifestyle choices. The first-year students also will learn about Purdue's athletics and traditions during a session at Slayter Center for the Performing Arts. Other Boiler Gold Rush highlights include Unionfest in the Purdue Memorial Union on Aug. 14; Late Night at Recreational Sports Center on Aug. 15; a resource hunt on Aug. 16; and the Purdue West Carnival on Aug. 17. Students not participating in Boiler Gold Rush or Band Camp can move into university residence halls starting Aug. 12. An early arrival fee of $34.25 room and board, or a $19 room-only rate will be assessed for each day before Aug. 18, when regular housing contracts begin. Throughout the week, University Residences staff and returning students will be available to assist new students and parents and direct them to the students' rooms. University Residences will have 20-minute unloading zones for families as students move in. Adjacent parking is available once families unload. The Office of Admissions will sponsor a welcoming parade at 6:15 p.m. Aug. 19, from the Windsor Residence Halls to Hovde Hall. The parade will feature Purdue's "All-American" Marching Band, the Boilermaker Special and Purdue Pete. After the parade, students and their parents may attend the President's Gala to Welcome New Students at 7 p.m. in the Elliott Hall of Music. Purdue President Martin C. Jischke will be the keynote speaker. Other orientation activities include: • Adult learner orientation, 1 p.m. Aug. 13, Room 218, Stewart Center. • International undergraduate student orientation, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 14 and 1-5 p.m. Aug. 15, Class of 1950 Lecture Hall. • "Recreational Sports Spectacular," an open house from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Aug. 22 at the Recreational Sports Center to show students the variety of activities available at the facility. • Black Cultural Center Boilerfest, 4 p.m. Aug. 24, Black Cultural Center, 1100 Third St. This open house for new students will feature food, music and information about the facility. • Main Event and Activities Carnival sponsored by the Purdue Student Union Board, 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. Aug. 25, Purdue Memorial Union and Stewart Center. More than 100 student organizations will have displays and information booths at the outdoor activities carnival during the day, and a variety of entertainment will be presented. In order to reduce traffic and housing congestion near campus, Purdue, in cooperation with CityBus, again will provide free community-wide bus service for all students with a valid Purdue identification card, starting the first day of classes, Aug. 21. The service also has been expanded to include Purdue faculty, staff and retirees on all bus routes in Greater Lafayette. Also, to provide travelers with up-to-date road information, Purdue maintains a Web site, Travel Alert, off the Purdue home page. The first day of classes at other Purdue campuses are: Aug. 21, Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne and Purdue North Central; Aug. 23, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis; and Aug. 24, Purdue Calumet. CONTACTS: Boscher, (765) 494-1000; mboscher@purdue.edu; Storie Preo, assistant director of admissions, (765) 496-6535; sdpreo@adms.purdue.edu; Patti Dulik, Boiler Gold Rush Coordinator, (765) 496-6460, pfdulik@adms.purdue.edu; Michael Brzezinski, director of International Students and Scholars, (765) 494-7084; mab@iss.purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page