Be a Seawolf: Students Kick off the School Year Across Campus

New students surrounded Wolfie on the field at LaValle Stadium at the New Student Convocation on August 24. Photo by Isabel Epstein.

Music, dancing, movies, roller skating, mini golf, and plenty of other fun events - along with the ever-present Wolfie - welcomed students back to Stony Brook University during New Seawolf Welcome Week.

Despite a delayed move-in because of flash flooding, the campus was soon buzzing with activity, from the SAC to LaValle Stadium and everywhere in between.

Interim President Richard McCormick addressed first-year and transfer students at convocation events at the stadium and the Staller Center, respectively, expressing appreciation for the community's resiliency while noting his own status as new to Stony Brook. "Being new is both exciting and can be daunting, too," he said to new students on August 24. "And so I want to assure you that whatever you are feeling right now is totally, for better or for worse, normal."

Interim President Richard McCormick joined students at the Welcome Back BBQ on the Staller Steps. Photo by John Griffin.

McCormick also had words of advice based on his long career at some of the top public research universities. "From one new kid to another, I have some advice for you - and that is to keep listening," he said. "Listen to your heart. Listen to each other's questions, values, and experiences. Listen to the needs of the world at large. One cannot learn without listening."

Students took part in mandatory workshops to help them get settled and introduce them to faculty, staff and other fellow students. But there were also other events like the Welcome Back BBQ, roller skating on SAC Plaza, Wolfie's Welcome, games, parties, movies, arts and crafts, fitness classes and more to get new Seawolves off and running.

View a gallery of photos from Welcome Week. Photos by John Griffin and Isabel Epstein.

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.