UMass Boston Welcomes Students Back to School

By Anne-Marie Kent

What is the power of a free bagel? Can the smell of hot popcorn"or perhaps a plate of nachos, heavy-laden with cheese and served with a smile"convey warmth to a new freshman's heart?

Students faced a hectic first week back, what with adding and dropping classes, locating hard-to-find classrooms, and finding time to get ID cards and buy those much-needed course books. To soothe these stresses, UMass Boston has, for the past few years, offered complimentary food, extra information tables staffed by knowledgeable employees, cheerful balloons, and lots of music.

It seems to have worked. "I appreciate the free bagels and popcorn the first few days of class because with all the first-day chaos, the food table is like a safe haven," said English major Rachel Pinder. Her classmate, Janelle Stockbridge, agreed: "it'ss inviting, friendly, and comforting."

In addition to free food, there were open invitations for students to learn more about the campus. Both WUMB Radio and the Beacon Fitness Center opened their doors that week and invited students to discover the innerworkings of the folk radio station and the comprehensive workout facilities of the center. For students interested in outdoor exploration, there were sailboat rides and tours of the outdoor sculpture park, Arts on the Point. The Quinn Lobby and the main plaza were also filled with music at selected times. Student Joyce Gambino approved: "I think the music is so relaxing."

Upon their return to campus this year, students may have noticed the addition of new television monitors to many lobbies and gathering spaces. Fourteen monitors have been placed at key locations to provide up-to-date information on campus events and activities, announced Chancellor Jo Ann Gora in her Convocation address. She added, "We improved communication with and services for students this past year by introducing the monthly Campus Community Calendar; the Community Front Page, which provides a daily electronic bulletin board of notices, events, and advertisements; and computer kiosks which enable students to register and check their accounts…These efforts help create a more ‘user-friendly' campus for our students."

Some students, like Linnea Bredenberg, said they were too busy to notice the new monitors, but Gambino was grateful. "They make me feel informed as to what is going on in the school."

Image: Beth Demers (right), graduate assistant and student, assists a student with a course catalogue. (Photo by Harry Brett)

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