By Ryan Stone
With Gig ‘Em Week already underway, there is a veritable tsunami of events available on-campus over the next month. Here are a few stand-outs that may pique your interest.
Friday, August 27. Aggieland Market. Visit Academic Plaza between 11 AM and 2 PM to get a sampling of what local Bryan/College Station businesses have to offer. According to Student Life, there will be up to 65 booths this year manned by everyone from restaurants to bookstores. It is a great way for local establishments to say hello to new students and for those students to sample some of the local flavor. There will also be prizes and food.
Sunday, August 29. Class Schedule Tour. For those new to campus or simply bad with maps and directions, head to the front of Sbisa and Commons Lobby between 6 and 7 PM with your class schedule and let an Orientation Leader help you find your way around. Just try not to get lost on your way.
Monday, August 30. First Day of Classes. Load up all your new pens, pencils, notebooks, stethoscopes, protractors, and slide rules in your new backpack, and go learn something.
Tuesday, August 31 – Thursday, September 2. Property Engraving. Head over to Wells Hall or Sbisa/Underground between 5 PM and 7 PM with your favorite bicycle, laptop, gold watch, and whatever precious belongings you own. The Texas A&M police will engrave your name on them for free. This is to facilitate easy identification in the event that they are lost or stolen. Did we mention that it’s free?
Wednesday, September 8. Weather Hazards: What They Are & How to Prepare. Rudy Pearce gives a talk from 7 to 8 PM in Rudder 301 about what to do when a severe weather emergency hits Brazos County. Just one of many similar events held during Campus Safety Awareness Week, the speaker also happens to be a TAMU graduate and the Weekend Weather Anchor for KWTX in Waco.
Sunday, September 12. Thesis and Dissertation Writing Seminar. Officially titled, “Taking the Bull by the Horns: Success Strategies for Writing a Thesis or Dissertation,” the University Writing Center is offering this service from 2 to 4 PM in room 204E in Evans Library. For any students that are nervous, distraught, or losing their mind over the culmination of their life’s work, this one’s for you. Those presiding over the event request that those needing help bring an abstract of their current project for use in group activities.
Tuesday, September 21 – Thursday, September 23. SHARP: Sexual Harassment Assault Rape Prevention. Take advantage of this self-defense course that is available between 6 and 9 PM for three nights in a row. Texas A&M officer Kristi Hosea teaches basic methods for dealing with uncomfortable and dangerous situations. Contact khosea@tamu.edu to preregister.
Keep in mind that this list is for on-campus activities and is just a sample. It does not even begin to touch the endless off-campus events happening this year, such as Ziegfest on September 5.
It also does not account for any random, crazy activities that you and your friends may have planned. Just keep in mind that Maroon Weekly does not endorse spontaneous street parties, but we would almost certainly feel the need to write about them should they occur.