NATCHITOCHES – The first week of fall classes at Northwestern State University brings a series of traditions that have become part of how students begin a new academic year.
Some are designed specifically for students experiencing their first days at NSU. Others bring new and returning students together as campus returns to its fall routine.
The week’s traditions began before classes with First Night Fest on Aug. 15, which brought students together ahead of the start of the semester. First-year students attended New Student Convocation and the President’s Picnic on Aug. 16. Convocation formally welcomed new students to the university before they gathered for the picnic in Iberville Dining Hall.
Jenna Sklar, a first-year nursing student of Natchitoches, said the activities have given her opportunities to connect with other students during her first few days at NSU.
“I’ve met so many new people already, and I love how involved it is,” Sklar said. “It’s just a great way to meet people.”
On Monday, students returned to Kyser Brickway for another beginning-of-the-year tradition: first-day-of-class photos. Throughout the morning, students stopped along the brickway to mark the beginning of the fall semester.
For returning students, many of the events are familiar. Alex Laurent, a senior biology premed major of Lafayette, has experienced several of the traditions throughout his time at NSU.
“I still remember going to my first Color Chaos and throwing paint all over everybody for absolutely no reason,” Laurent said. “Those are the kind of things I think I’ll look back on in 20, 30 years whenever I’m talking to my kids or talking to old college friends.”
The traditions continue throughout the first week of classes. Color Chaos brought students to Organization Row Monday evening for games and activities involving colored paint.
Putt for Parking followed Wednesday on Kyser Brickway, where students had the opportunity to putt for a reserved faculty and staff parking space for the year. Glow in the Dark Zumba was held Wednesday night in the Student Union Ballroom.
Sklar said events throughout the week help students make connections on campus.
“I think these events help bring everybody together and just meet new people,” Sklar said.
After attending Color Chaos Monday, Sklar said she was looking forward to experiencing more first-week activities.
“I can’t wait to do more events and just take it all in and enjoy it all,” she said.
The week will close Friday with Purple Priday, when students, faculty and staff are encouraged to wear purple. The tradition gives the campus community another way to mark the beginning of the fall semester before first-week activities come to an end.
Laurent said continuing the same traditions each year gives students and alumni shared experiences that extend beyond their time on campus.
“Even though I might be two, three, four years older than some of the people, and even people that were in school here 10 years ago, we all can talk about the same traditions that we did,” Laurent said. “I think that really allows us to be able to connect with each other, and it really builds a sense of community.”
For more information about First Year Experience at NSU, visit nsula.edu/first-year-experience.