Howdy Week
RHA Wild Night is the newest addition to Howdy Week. Its planners say it is another way for new students make friends.
By Emily Turner
Staff Reporter

When Matt Shonka came from Kansas his freshman year, he did not know a soul.

Because of that, Shonka said he wanted to create an event that would help new students ease into the social arena.

“I was kind of the lone wolf when I came to TCU,” said Shonka, a junior political science major. “Now, I want to make sure others have an opportunity to meet fellow students and a chance to be themselves.”

Shonka, president of the Residence Hall Association, is trying to unitestudents this year by helping plan the first RHA Wild Night, which is scheduled to start at 8 p.m. Thursday in the Student Center Ballroom. It is the newest event at this year’s Howdy Week, which ends Friday.

Each residence hall will host a different event. Activities will range from racing to put a diaper on a baby doll at Waits Hall to a tailgate party at Milton Daniel Hall.“We want to make it fun and light-hearted,” Shonka said.

Students can pick up raffle tickets at the start of the event. Shonka said prizes range from two tickets to see the Lion King at Bass Hall to gift certificates to Super Target and Fort Worth restaurants. To redeem these prizes, Shonka said students need to return to the ballroom at 10:30 p.m.

He said that giving away certificates to local eateries would be an opportunity for new students to explore what Fort Worth has to offer.

John Giammalva, the staff advisor for RHA, said he hopes the event will be fun and give people a chance to get acquainted with the campus, meet people and win prizes.

“Many students do not know where all the residence halls are located,” Giammalva said. “By encouraging people to win prizes, hopefully students will become aware of all of the hall locations on campus.”

Kate Smallwood, a freshman premajor, found a different way to get to know the campus. She said by helping Programming Council set up for Howdy Week and assisting in the events, she quickly felt like a part of the TCU community and was able to make friends.

“I’ve gotten to know people I would not have met just sitting in my dorm,” Smallwood said. “Since I’m not rushing, I would have been especially lonely this week if I wouldn’t have come out to help.”

Phyllis Bodie, program director of Campus Life, said she realizes leaving home for college can be an overwhelming experience. But, Bodie said, Howdy Week is an ideal opportunity to bring the TCU community together and assist in making new students feel at home.

This year’s Howdy Week is unique because more events are planned and several new events are incorporated into the schedule, Bodie said. She said the fireworks display, the chancellor’s reception, and the all sports pep rally are some of the additions to the 2002 Howdy Week.

Another highlight was Vanilla Ice performing near Frog Fountain.

“I was sitting with some international students at a luncheon,” Bodie said. “After I told them Vanilla Ice was coming to TCU, they all started singing ‘Ice Ice Baby’.”

Bodie said Programming Council officially got the contract on Vanilla Ice about three weeks before the concert. One of the students on Programming Council had the idea to invite Vanilla Ice to Howdy Week and helped to make plans with the performer before he came to TCU, Bodie said. She also said Red Bull sponsored the Vanilla Ice concert for Howdy Week.

Like the Vanilla Ice concert, Shonka said he is hoping Wild Night will bring TCU students together in a fun atmosphere.

“Wild Night is a simple and efficient way for residents to get acquainted with one another and learn their way around the campus,” Shonka said.