Purdue News
Purdue News
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August 11, 2004 Boiler Gold Rush helps Purdue freshmen feel at homeWEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – About 4,650 freshmen on Saturday through Thursday (Aug. 14-19) will participate in Boiler Gold Rush 2004, a weeklong orientation program for incoming freshmen at Purdue University designed to make the adjustment to college life easier. "Out with the Old, in with Purdue" is the theme for this year's Boiler Gold Rush, sponsored by the Office of Enrollment Management's area of Orientation and New Student Programs in cooperation with University Residences. Classes start Aug. 23. "This is the largest number of participants in Boiler Gold Rush since we started holding it in 1993," said Patti Dulik, associate director of orientation and new student programs. "Studies show that students who attend freshman orientation and get involved on campus are more likely to excel during their first year of college and are far less likely to drop out." The program will familiarize new students and their parents with the campus and Purdue traditions. Along with comedy shows, concerts and other recreational activities, presentations will stress campus safety, cultural diversity and healthy lifestyle choices. Parents will have the opportunity to attend one of two family orientation sessions from 3:30-5 p.m. Saturday (Aug. 14) and Sunday (Aug. 15) in the Elliott Hall of Music. Keynote speaker Paul Wesselman will give a talk on "Extreme Connections: Creating an Exceptional College Experience" after a welcome by student government president Aaron Schnur at 9:45 p.m. on Sunday. At 9:45 a.m. Monday (Aug. 16) first-year students will be introduced to Purdue athletics during "Boilermaker Basics: An Up-Close Look at Purdue Athletics" at the Slayter Center for the Performing Arts. Purdue football coach Joe Tiller will be a guest speaker. Purdue athletes, cheerleaders and the "All-American" Marching Band will be featured. Other Boiler Gold Rush highlights include Unionfest in the Purdue Memorial Union and Late Night at the Recreational Sports Center from 8 p.m. to midnight on Monday and Tuesday (Aug. 16 and Aug. 17). Also on Monday, "Happy Hour" will address issues dealing with alcohol, starting at 1:50 p.m. in the Elliott Hall of Music. Purdue President Martin C. Jischke will address participating freshmen at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday (Aug. 17) in the Elliott Hall of Music. A talk on how to get an "A" in the digital age of learning will start the day at 9:40 a.m. on Wednesday (Aug. 18) at Elliott Hall. A "Meet the Schools" picnic will take place from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday on Memorial Lawn. The picnic allows students to mingle with about 150 school advisers, faculty and staff while enjoying a free lunch from Papa John's Pizza and free ice cream from Snow Bear. At the same time, the University Resource Fair will take place in the Purdue Memorial Union South Ballroom. At 8:30 p.m. on the same evening, comedian Buzz Sutherland will perform at Elliott Hall. Boiler Gold Rush will conclude with a concert from 8-11 p.m. on Thursday (Aug. 19) at the Slayter Hill Amphitheater. A complete listing of Boiler Gold Rush activities is available online. BGR staff members are available to answer questions about events at (765) 494-9328. Writer: Reni Winter, (765) 496-3133, rwinter@purdue.edu Source: Patti Dulik, (765) 496-6460, pfdulik@purdue.edu Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
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