Aaron Berkowitz – General Assignment Reporter
SCSU students and faculty gathered in the Adanti Student Center for the school’s edition of Winterfest to welcome everyone back for a new semester after the first week of classes came to a close. The welcome home weekend events did not only include fun events for students and the staff’s families to enjoy, but also a charity event organized by the sorority Delta Phi Epsilon. Members of the sorority collected jackets, gloves, and blankets to donate to those in need now that winter is here.
Ashley Ishman, graduate intern who graduated with a B.S. in public health, said this welcome home weekend was a collaborative effort and couldn’t have been done without help from Student Affairs.
“We want to show students that although we want to have fun and do big things like this on campus,” said Ishman. “We also want to show them that we give back to the community in creative ways. It’s important to give back so that the outside communities understand that college students aren’t just partying and doing what they show on TV, we are philanthropic.”
Ishman also said she encourages students to take advantage of big events around campus like this one because she realized how fast her four years at the school went by.
“We need to appreciate the little things that our going on around us,” said Ishman. “This is our school, just get involved.”
Annette Hailer, junior social work major, said events such as jacket drive are a major part of our school’s mission statement.
“The event falls under the social justice aspect of our school’s mission statement,” said Hailer. “We really are just trying to show the community that we do care and give back. We are hoping events like this will help establish some social interaction.”
“We really tried to stretch the campus out the best we could,” said Robert DeMezzo, director of Residence Life. “There are events in the Residence Life quad, the Student Center, and ice skating on the new basketball court. We decided to place this event on the weekend since we hear that students complain about there being nothing to do. We figured what better way to get them involved than with a big event.”
DeMezzo said he really hopes students take the opportunity to network with both other students and the faculty.
Sal Rizza, associate director of Student Life, said students should be on the lookout for events on campus because they help build valuable connections with both other students and the faculty.
“The stronger the student and staff’s connections are,” said Rizza. “The stronger the student’s connection is with the school. Working hand-in-hand with staff helps the students find success. Building relationships with the staff could lead to internships, professional opportunities, and all types of positive results. The staff wants to guide students into the fields they want to go into.”
Rizza said he realizes that some parts of New Haven that have greater needs so anytime the school make a contribution, big or small, they take the opportunity to make a difference.
“We put this event together in order to bring students together in celebration of the New Year,” said Rizza. “But we also wanted to help build some more community spirit. More and more we have become focused on service initiatives, more specifically we are trying to create larger and smaller efforts to give back to the local community.”
