Kennedy, UMaine Staff to Welcome Students Friday
Contact: Joe Carr, 581-3571
ORONO — Nearly 500 University of Maine employees, students and alumni will be out in force on Friday, greeting new UMaine students and their families as they move into residence halls. A modern version of the traditional “Maine Hello,” the move-in has become a highlight of UMaine’s Fall Welcome Weekend, a series of events designed to acclimate new students and get them ready to begin classes on Monday, Aug. 30.
“There is nothing quite like the ‘Maine Hello,'” says UMaine Interim President Robert Kennedy. “It is such a pleasure to meet the new students and their families and to lend support as they join our community.” Kennedy assumed the UMaine presidency on Aug. 15, but he has participated in the program for the past several years in his role as executive vice president and provost. Students move in between 8 a.m.-2 p.m., with the bulk of activity occurring between 10 a.m. and noon.
The UMaine Class of 2008 will number approximately 1,763. They will be moving into 16 of UMaine’s 18 residence halls; Oak Hall and Doris Twitchell Allen Village do not house first-year students. UMaine’s overall 2004-2005 student population is expected to be approximately 11,300.
The move-in activities are just the beginning of a full three days of social events, informational sessions and opportunities for students to take care of necessary last-minute details before classes begin. Activities include Dinner and a Student Organizations Showcase (Friday, 5 p.m., on the Mall); Class Picture and Spirit Rally (7 p.m., Alfond Stadium); Opening Ceremony: UMaine Traditions (9 p.m. Friday, Maine Center for the Arts); Bus Trips to the Bangor Mall and National Folk Festival (leaving from Memorial Union at 1 p.m. Saturday); a field hockey game against the University of Calgary (3:30 p.m. Saturday); a performance by comedian and UMaine graduate Steve Caouette (10 p.m. Saturday, Hauck Auditorium); Fogler Library Maine Mystery Tour (1-2 p.m. Sunday); Black Bear Block Party (9 p.m. Sunday, Memorial Union patio).
A full schedule of events is on the Web at http://www.umaine.edu/orientation/agenda.htm.
Note: President Kennedy will be available for interviews during the move-in on Friday. Please contact Joe Carr on cell phone at 949-4149 for assistance in determining Kennedy’s location.