Skip to Main content

Rambunctious Weekend to Welcome ASU Students to Campus

August 09, 2010

An expanded Rambunctious Weekend schedule will greet Angelo State University students Aug. 20-24 when they arrive for the start of the fall semester.

The five-day event has grown this year to include the first two days of classes. Features during the weekend include games, food, movies, live entertainment and informational events designed to acquaint new students with campus life and to greet returning students as they begin the new school year.

The newest feature this year will be informational tents operated by staff and student volunteers. The tents will be set up along the ASU Mall to help direct students to classes on Monday, Aug. 23, and Tuesday, Aug. 24. ASU’s Student Government Association will provide pastries, coffee and juice to fuel the students on the first days of class.

Also new this year will be a program for parents on Saturday morning at the Family Hospitality Center in the ASU Food Service Center called “A Few Parting Thoughts for Parents.” It is designed to acquaint parents with their children’s new environment and the experiences university life holds for them.

Rambunctious Weekend begins on Friday, Aug. 20, when the residence halls open for students to begin moving in. ASU President Joseph C. Rallo will lead ASU staff and faculty helping students move into their new rooms. Food will be available to early arrivers beginning at 8 a.m. at the Food Service Center and the University Center Snack Bar.

A cookout for students and parents is planned for 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Friday at the Pavilion on the east side of campus, and lunch will also be available at the ASU Food Service Center and the Houston Harte University Center.

The Fall Convocation, where ASU officials welcome all students and parents, will be held at 4 p.m. on Friday in the Junell Center/Stephens Arena, 2235 S. Jackson St. Students should arrive at the Junell Center by 3:45 p.m.

After the Convocation, students and their families will be treated to a brisket cookout at the ASU Food Service Center from 5-7 p.m. with music provided by Dr. John Irish, an associate professor of music, and his jazz quintet. Tickets for the annual ASU Family Day, set this year for Sept. 25, will be distributed, and students can sign up for Rambunctious Weekend recreational games competitions.

Other activities running from 5-9 p.m. Friday will include balloon and air brush artists Mike and Margaret, caricaturist Jeff Mandell, an oxygen bar, big chairs and Segway rides.

Health-minded students can watch fitness class demonstrations sponsored by the ASU Department of University Recreation and Intramurals from 7:30-8:30 p.m. Friday, and the Family Hospitality Center will be open from 7:30-10 p.m. in the Food Service Center.

“Beat the Banker,” modeled after a game show, will be held from 9:30-10:30 p.m. Friday at the Pavilion, followed from 10:30 p.m. to midnight by a DJ dance. A midnight breakfast will be served in the ASU Food Service Center, free to ASU students and their families.

In another change from past years, more late-night movies will be shown after Friday’s activities, beginning at 12:30 a.m. at four locations. “Hairspray” will show at Texan Hall, “Dear John” is planned for the Centennial Village commons building, “Invictus” will play in the Concho Hall lobby and “Clash of the Titans” is set for the ASU Pavilion.

The action picks up again Saturday from 12:30-4 p.m. with the popular mud flag football tournament just south of Texan Hall. The Student Organization Fair will be held from 3:30-5:30 p.m. in the Pavilion area to acquaint students with groups they can join. From 5-7 p.m. Saturday, a caricaturist will be available at the Pavilion area, along with photo key chains and the oxygen bar.

The Pavilion area will also be the site of a fajita cookout and Mexican fiesta on Saturday evening, sponsored by the Campus Ministries and First Year Experience Office, free to ASU students from 5:30-7:15 p.m. At 7:30 p.m., a spirit rally will feature the ASU cheerleaders, Angelettes drill team, the Ram Marching Band and representatives of ASU sports teams, including coaches and players.

Country music and southern rock music fans can listen to the Bleu Edmondson Band from 10 p.m.-midnight at the Pavilion. From midnight to 2 a.m., Residential Programs will host the “RAMazing Race at ASU,” which will traverse the whole campus.

Race teams of five to 10 students will compete for prizes at different pit stops around campus with tie-ins to university-related interactive topics designed to help students become acquainted with ASU. The first three teams to reach each pit stop will proceed to the next round until the last teams are eliminated. All teams that enter are eligible for a final prize.

On Sunday, Aug. 22, ASU students can visit the ASU Lake House for activities and a cookout from 2-6 p.m.

For more information about Rambunctious Weekend activities, call the ASU Student Life Office at 942-2191, or go online to www.angelo.edu/services/student_life/rambunctious_schedule2010.html.