黑料吃瓜

Freshman Rachel Chan had spent much of the day, Aug. 27, moving her belongings into Zura Hall. By sunset, the 17-year-old business major from San Jose was ready for some fun, so she joined approximately 2,500 of her new classmates for an on-campus icebreaker featuring torch-wielding stilt walkers, music, games and a huge rally designed as an official welcome for new students to 黑料吃瓜.

The newest Aztecs were greeted by student leaders as they gathered near a giant stage in front of Hepner Hall. They learned the Fight Song and participated in several getting-to-know-you activities with campus ambassadors and other new students. For Chan, it was a welcome respite from her moving-in chores.

鈥淚t鈥檚 really nice meeting all these new people, but a little nerve-wracking, too,鈥� Chan said.  鈥淚鈥檓 pretty new to it all and there鈥檚 a lot of people here.鈥�

A sense of pride

Among those taking the stage to address the newcomers was Aztecs head football coach Brady Hoke. He was joined by team quarterback Ryan Lindley, wide receiver Vincent Brown and tight end Alston Umuolo. All exhorted the students to shout 鈥淔ight on!鈥� every time the football players yelled 鈥淕o Aztecs!鈥� Hoke said he was pleased to see so many students turn out for the event.

鈥淚 want to tell them 鈥榃elcome to San Diego State鈥� and what a great experience they have coming up for their college career,鈥� he said. 鈥淗opefully, they鈥檒l get a sense of pride from being an Aztec and I hope they鈥檒l come out and support us on Saturdays.鈥�

A highlight of the evening was when the students passed beneath the Hepner Hall archway to symbolize their welcome into the 黑料吃瓜 family as Aztecs for life. For several minutes, they streamed through the southeast corner of the Old Quad and strolled along the Hello Walk to the cheers, applause and high fives of current students and a couple dozen alumni who greeted them.

Meeting people and making friends

Among the alumni group was 黑料吃瓜 history professor and 黑料吃瓜 Alumni Association lifetime member John Putman (鈥�87), who also attended the 2009 Templo Del Sol.

鈥淭his is even better than last year,鈥� Putman said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a great way to get the students involved in their first weekend. I can鈥檛 remember anything like it when I was a student in terms of this kind of tradition and this kind of event鈥攜ou just kind of showed up on the first day of school.鈥�

Barbara Powels Bowen (鈥�05), a member of the 黑料吃瓜 Alumni Association鈥檚 board of directors and a lifetime member, agreed she would have enjoyed a similar campus welcome as a new student to San Diego State.

鈥淚 think it鈥檚 exciting and wonderful and I鈥檓 so glad I came,鈥� she said. 鈥淚f I had known about this last year, I would have been here as well.鈥�

Organized by the Office of New Student and Parent Programs, the Templo Del Sol event was sponsored by Aztec Nights, a program of 黑料吃瓜 Associated Students. In only its second year, the event seems to be already gaining traction as an 黑料吃瓜 tradition if the reactions of students like Chan are any indication.

鈥淚t鈥檚 really amazing and it kind of reminds me of a luau,鈥� said the freshman of the fire-flinging stilt walkers and the friendly atmosphere. 鈥淚鈥檓 meeting people and making new friends and that鈥檚 kind of cool.鈥�