What’s on Tap for Welcome Week 2017

It’s fall, and that can only mean one thing on a college campus: School is back in session. Well, the Drexel University quarter system means school is always in session, but this upcoming fall term means freshmen are moving in and upperclassmen are returning from summer co-ops and internships to once again fill the neighborhood with life.

Move-in for Drexel’s residential halls is this Friday and Saturday, followed by a full week’s worth of activities for Welcome Week 2017, giving new Dragons a chance to get settled in before classes kick off Sept. 25. DrexelNow has you covered for all the activities, events and tips you’ll want to know about as it all unfolds. There are more than 250 events scheduled throughout the week, so take a closer look and make some plans to explore all that’s available to you.

Moving In

Before you can truly get acclimated to your new college, courses and classmates, you’ve got to get set up in your new digs. Every student has been assigned a specific time to make their move, and Drexel has hired a student move-in company to help ensure everything goes smoothly. Get your shopping done in advance, don’t overload those boxes, and stick to your specific time and location — everything else will fall into place. Make sure you’ve completed any necessary immunizations in order to get your keys on time and start living like a college student.

Still not quite sure what you need to pack to get off on the right foot? A laundry basket and a steady supply of pens would be a good start, but Drexel’s got a more complete checklist for you. And don’t forget, not everything is allowed — leave that incense at home!

Relax a Bit

Once you’ve got everything squared away in your dorm or apartment, visit the Resource Fair in the Drexel Recreation Center at 33rd and Market streets, where there will be light refreshments available and Drexel representatives able to answer any pressing questions. Visit the Barnes & Noble Bookstores at Drexel, at 33rd and Chestnut streets, to pick up some Dragons gear, and swing by the Creese Student Center right next door to get your photo taken for your DragonCard.

Eat

You’ll quickly learn that food is often at the center of social life in college, whether you’re getting lunch in the dining hall or dinner at one of the hundreds of great restaurants around the city of Philadelphia. Welcome Week is no different.

Check out the Welcome Barbecue from 5–8 p.m. on Sept. 16 along Lancaster Walk, where the DJs of WKDU, Drexel’s own radio station, will be spinning. Get brunch the next morning at the Recreation Center from 10:30 a.m. to noon. On Sept. 18 from 1–3 p.m. in the Paul Peck Alumni Center, grab some treats as Drexel celebrates founder A.J. Drexel’s birthday — he’ll be turning 191! Interested in eating a vegetarian diet? Meet up with Drexel Veg from 10 a.m. to noon on Sept. 21 to make your own smoothie and learn about the club. And since Drexel is, after all, a research institution, make sure you’re a part of the Great Philly Food Debate from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sept. 21 in the Bossone Research Center.

You’ve also got your first chance to meet Subir Sahu, PhD, the dean of Student Life, at breakfast in Main Building, Suite 220, from 9–11 a.m. on Sept. 22.

Play

Drexel’s. Largest. Dodgeball. Game. What more do you need to know? Join up from 3–6 p.m. on Sept. 17 at Buckley Recreational Field. If that’s not quite your speed, the Welcome Week Kick-Off Event at the Franklin Institute from 7–11 that night will have music, dancing and plenty more to guarantee a good time. Try your hand at some comedy (or just laugh while someone else does) in the Black Box Theater at the URBN Center, which is hosting an improv workshop from 4–5:30 p.m. and stand-up comedy from 7–9, or get to a baseball game at Citizens Bank Park with your new classmates for Drexel Night at the Ballpark.

And if all that isn’t enough, there’s live-action Mario Kart taking place from 1–3 p.m. on Sept. 21 at Buckley Recreation Field. If you see a dragon, make sure it’s Bowser, not Mario the Magnificent, before sending a shell his way.

Learn

Interested in getting to know Drexel a little better? An interactive lecture in the A.J. Drexel Picture Gallery at 11 a.m. on Sept. 17 should fill you in on the 125-year history of the University. Or if you’re more interested in the country’s history, visit the National Constitution Center from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. with the Lindy Center for Civic Engagement.

Sept. 19 is the day to keep yourself sharp — no matter your major, all of Drexel’s schools and colleges will be hosting welcome sessions for freshmen throughout the day. Check the schedule for all the details.

Convocation 2017

The academic year officially kicks off Sept. 20 at 1:30 p.m. in the Daskalakis Athletic Center as the University rededicates itself to the mission of teaching, research and service to society. It will be the first of many opportunities at Drexel to get united in the community spirit.