By
Maggie Burnett
Arizona Summer Wildcat
New, late-night festivities and indoor Catfest concert among changes to event
For the fourth straight year, several major UA organizations will play host to hundreds of incoming students through their sponsorship of Wildcat Welcome Week.
This year, however, the week will implement several new features in attempt to draw in larger crowds and avoid weather mishaps.
As always, the week will include a showing of the classic "Revenge of the Nerds" - a movie filmed at the University of Arizona - a barbeque at Bear Down Field, and a block party outside Arizona/Sonora Residence Hall sponsored by the Residence Hall Association, along with the addition of events at Park Student Union.
"Some events have stayed the same," said Mindy Griffiths, senior coordinator for campus activities and co-chair for the week. "This year, though, we're doing Wildcat Nights, a late-night event at Park (Student Union). We're showing 'Can't Buy me Love' since it was filmed in Tucson. Also, there will be a one-man variety act - he's a magician and comedian."
"I'd be curious to see how the night goes," she added. "We want to carry it out to a once-a-month event."
Along with this added event comes a significant change to Catfest, a large concert held on the last day of Wildcat Welcome Week.
For the first time ever, the show will be held indoors.
"It will be in Centennial Hall because of rain the past few years," Griffiths said.
Regardless of a venue change, J.J. Kruglick, director for UABconcerts, worked just as hard to get a decent band to play at the university.
"We've got Eve 6," Kruglick said. "There will also be three local bands outside (Centennial), but we don't know which ones yet."
Catfest is just part of a larger set of festivities scheduled for the 10-day Welcome Week. Sponsored largely by Arizona Student Unions and the University Activities Board, the week will feature more than 20 events including barbeques, bowling and block parties.
Though a variety of welcoming festivities have been in action for years, Wildcat Welcome Week has only been an event of this scale for the past four years.
"(This week) was incepted about four years ago when I got here," said Juliette Moore, director of campus recreation and co-chair for the week. "Everyone was doing their own individual things. I pulled together a committee of folks from all aspects of the university and we formulated the Wildcat Welcome Week committee. We went to (university President Peter Likins) for funding and have since secured permanent funding for the program."
The purpose of the week is to welcome both new and old students back to campus by offering not only fun activities but also free shuttles to local businesses for shopping, an extra hand with moving into the dorms and most importantly, free food.
"This is an opportunity to welcome back all students. It's for everybody," Griffiths said.
"This year we have free Eegees, Chipotle chips and salsa, snow cones and ice cream," Moore added. "Arizona State Savings and Credit Union is sponsoring the ice cream bash and a golf putt for $10,000. It's hard though! That's a 60-foot putt."
Now that the Welcome Week is up and on its feet, the executive committee is looking to extend other events into the future in addition to Wildcat Nights at Park.
"We would eventually like to do year-long events," Moore said. "Right now, we're doing (the week) just for the Fall. Futuristically, we'll look at expanding it to do it at the beginning of every semester."
With the amount of events offered during this year's Wildcat Welcome Week, new and old students alike are sure to find something to do that suits their taste.
"Take advantage of the opportunity and get involved," Griffiths said. "That's the theme we've done with everything. We're trying to show students that there are things to do on campus. Enjoy yourself - that's what college is all about."
