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Gold Rush Days Aug. 18-21

Published Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Gold Rush Days helpers, 2015
Gold Rush Days helpers, 2015

Freshmen will arrive on campus for Southwest Minnesota State University’s Gold Rush Days orientation Aug. 18-21.

Classes begin for all students on Monday, Aug. 22.

Orientation is an opportunity for students to meet fellow first-year students while participating in a number of activities that help acclimate them to college life at SMSU.

 “We are excited to extend a warm Mustang welcome to the Class of 2020. Gold Rush Days offers a variety of opportunities to connect with campus, the Marshall community, and fellow freshmen,” said Director of Admission Matt Suby.

Move-in Day is Aug. 18, and plenty of individuals will be on hand to help new students carry belongings into the residence halls. SMSU athletic teams, students, faculty, staff, and community members will assist in moving students into the residence halls, continuing a tradition started by the late President Doug Sweetland.

Residence Hall check-in begins at 8 a.m. on Aug. 18. Schwan’s ice cream treats will be handed out from 10 a.m. until noon, followed by a campus cookout in the Central Courtyard from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. The Campus Religious Center will host an ice cream social from 2-4 p.m., followed by house meetings and dinner with orientation leaders and RA’s. A women’s volleyball scrimmage will be held at 7:30 p.m., followed by comedy mentalist Sean Bott in the SMSU Theatre.

Convocation will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Aug. 19, where students will hear from SMSU President Dr. Connie J. Gores and Provost Dr. Dwight C. Watson as well as a featured alumni speaker.

Following convocation, students will meet their advisors. Various activities are planned during the day, including PLAYFAIR, a program for campus unity and school spirit; a bean bag tournament; a sand volleyball tournament; Gold Rush Waves, where students can cool down with water wars and water-based carnival games; and Student Success presentations on academics and mental health.

The evening will conclude with a BBQ dinner at SMSU Smokefest, an outdoor movie on the Schwan Regional Event Center field, and the Johnny Holm Band, one of the most widely known and traveled bands in America, performing at the Schwan Regional Event Center Plaza.

Activities continue on Aug. 20 with a scavenger hunt around downtown Marshall at 10:30 a.m. The Gold Rush Days staple, mud volleyball, begins at noon. Students can learn more about intramurals during the day. An interactive wheelchair basketball demonstration will begin at 5 p.m., and Sex Signals, a high-energy and humorous exploration of culture, sex, and the issue of bystander intervention, will end the evening.

On Aug. 21, there will be bus and biking tours of Marshall. Campus and classroom tours are also available. A soccer tournament will begin at 10:30 a.m. at the Schwan Regional Event Center. Afternoon activity options include Open Skate at the brand new Red Baron Arena & Expo, Go-Karts, Arcade, and Mini Golf at Dickey’s BBQ and AJ’s Arcade, and an SMSU Drama Club improv show. A Mustang happy hour with Student Association President Ashanti Payne and other student leaders will be held at 6 p.m., and house photos conclude Gold Rush Days at 7:30 p.m.

For more information about Gold Rush Days, call the Office of Admission at: 507-537-6286.

 

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