Student Life's Winter Welcome celebrates beginning of spring

Over the last two weeks, Buffalo State College's Student Life Office held their annual Winter Welcome to celebrate the arrival of the spring semester.

Winter Welcome offered various events around campus, such as the hot chocolate bar, a snowman building contest, commuter breakfast and Lasertron lock-in.

The events brought students living on and off campus together, as well as to getting them involved in campus activities they might not normally participate in.

"Events like this get students off campus but still connected to Buffalo State College, and you get to meet new people," said BSC student Libby Dernbach.

Flyers were distributed advertising Winter Welcome events such as Cupcake Wars, where students decorated cupcakes and were scored on their artistic cupcake designs. The winners, Arkeida Wilson, Amy Vantuyl and Ava Cohen from Zeta Chi Omega, each received $225 in dining dollars.

Many of the events were a collaboration of the Student Life Office and Commuter Assistance Program to emphasize and acknowledge the students who commute to Buffalo State College.

CAP's events included commuter breakfasts, off-campus orientations, Buffalo State on the Move and Lasertron lock-in.

Students scored free hot chocolate with choices of different toppings such as marshmallows and chocolate chips at the hot chocolate bar, while Buffalo State on the Move was held at J.P Bullfeathers on Elmwood Avenue, where students could enjoy free refreshments, watch the Buffalo Sabres game and have the chance to win Sabres tickets.

"Winter Welcome shows students that our school cares about us and wants us to be involved," said commuter student Matt Markis, who attended Buffalo on the Move.

Part of the reason there were so many events was to broadcast the CAP's services to commuter students and amenities they provide such as escort vans and walking escorts to those far-away parking lots near Grant Street, CAP President Austin Diana said.

Diana said they also wanted commuters to feel integrated into campus life because commuters make up 78 percent of Buffalo State's student population.

Student Life Office Director Gail Wells said she feels these events are important to students.

"Getting involved with your campus community is part of college," she said. "It is important to be in social situations where you meet other peers on your campus who are from different parts of New York, the country and the world."

Along with hosting the Winter Welcome, the Student Life Office hosts informational events for students and collaborates with other on-campus groups.

To learn more about these upcoming events check out the billboards in the Campbell Student Union.

Kit Sombke can be reached by email at sombke.record@live.com.