WashU freshman Ian Pentland received a celebrity’s reception as he entered Umrath House on August 15.

“They were clapping and cheering,” remarked Pentland, originally from Kennebunk, Maine. “Everyone was saying, ‘Let’s go.’ I didn’t anticipate that, but it was truly delightful.”

Pentland was among the 1,970 newcomers who settled into the South 40 during the weekend. In the coming weeks, he and his peers will discover more about WashU’s academic facilities, student organizations, and boba tea offerings. However, on this particular day, WashU resident advisors (RAs), WashU Student Associates (WUSAs), and student leaders had a singular mission: to ensure every new student feels welcomed.

“I aim to replicate for everyone what I experienced on my first day,” noted Umrath House RA Omar Soltan, a junior at the McKelvey School of Engineering. “I was anxious, accompanying my parents. Then suddenly everyone began to applaud. It made me feel like I truly belonged.”

“Those initial moments can alleviate anxiety and lay the groundwork for the rest of the year,” added fellow Umrath RA Hertier Umuragwa, a senior at McKelvey Engineering. “Now they are aware they have someone here who cares, who can address their questions.”

WUSA Palladium Liang had numerous inquiries upon arriving from Cottleville, Mo. His WUSA assisted him in navigating the campus, connected him with fellow students sharing similar interests, and instructed him on managing his meal points. She also reassured him not to worry.

“There’s something enchanting about the first-year transition, and it begins on the very first day,” explained Liang, a McKelvey Engineering student and leader of several student organizations. This week and throughout the academic year, he and his fellow WUSAs will organize small-group and individual meetings with students on their designated floor. “I arrived here as an apprehensive student from a mediocre high school. My WUSA provided genuine guidance on how to foster friendships and engage with the community. Without that support, I may never have found my enthusiasm for chemistry and excelling in this class and activity.”

Student Union President Ashton Lee emphasized that fostering community is increasingly vital in these polarized times. He mentioned that the Student Union intends to establish some new all-campus traditions this year and will co-host a large tailgating event on September 6 ahead of the Bears football matchup against Rhodes College.

“Many of our communities face challenges, be it international students, low-income students, students of color, or Jewish students. All of these groups may feel unwelcome online and in their neighborhoods,” stated Lee, a student in Arts & Sciences. “What WashU excels at is helping students find a community of peers when it may be difficult to locate it elsewhere.”

Fall Welcome continues this week with an array of academic, career, and social activities, including Night at the Rec at the Sumers Rec Center, Career Conversations with the Center for Career Engagement, leadership and purpose workshops with the Bauer Leaders Academy, an “In the Lou” panel with Campus Life, “Dialogue Across Difference” (DxD) workshops, and a Shakespeare in the Park performance in Tisch Park. Fall Welcome wraps up with Convocation and a celebration in Tisch Park on Saturday, August 23. Classes commence on August 25.

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