Photo by Mackenzie Pike | The Doane Owl
New students had a busy August filled with activities, including Tiger Takeoff, New Student Orientation and the start of the semester. This year, Doane University welcomed 373 new students to campus, comprising 294 freshmen who make up the class of 2029, along with 79 transfer students from other universities or countries.
Welcome Week took place from Aug. 10 to 17, during which new students were introduced to campus resources and met their peers. Several fun events were organized in the weeks leading up to the start of the semester. On Aug. 14, Greek Life and the Student Programming Board (SPB) hosted the Foam Sweet Doane party. While the event was a huge success, the glow-in-the-dark foam dyed some students’ clothes a shade of green.
Photo by Mackenzie Pike | The Doane Owl
On Saturday, Aug. 16, students enjoyed Lake Day, bingo and Dine:09. The Perry Dining Hall was packed for the bingo event, where two televisions were the grand prizes. New students may have felt a bit disappointed when sophomore Laila Saunders and senior Luis Rejano Candau won the TVs.
The following day, Sunday, Aug. 17, featured Club Craze, showcasing many of the campus’s largest and most prominent organizations. Freshman Bettie Jo Chambers won the grand prize in Club Craze Bingo.
Photo by Elenna Koenig | The Doane Owl
These new students certainly experienced an eventful first week, which took an unexpected turn on the morning of Aug. 19, when the campus went into lockdown due to a swatting attempt. However, this incident ensured that all students became familiar with the emergency procedures.
Later that week, on Aug. 21, Convocation was held. Thomas the Tiger and returning students greeted new students as they made their way to the auditorium. Senior and Student Congress President, Morgan Smith, welcomed freshmen with an opening speech, stating, “Day by day, you might not notice the changes, but someday you’ll be where I am — a senior with two semesters left. One day, this very moment in this crowded auditorium will just be a memory.” President Roger Hughes followed with an official welcome for the Class of 2029 to Doane.
With nearly 400 new students on campus, parking has become a challenge. As people attempt to create parking spots wherever convenient, the number of parking violations and fines has increased. However, construction on the Performing Arts Center is expected to finish sooner than anticipated, which will free up the Communications parking lot once more.
As the semester begins, the campus is vibrant and bustling with activity. Students, both new and returning, are in store for another exciting year on campus.
Photo by Lorraine Castaneda | The Doane Owl
