Welcome Week not so welcoming?

Last week, as they returned to Kwantlen campuses for the fall semester, the KSA was busy welcoming new and returning students to school through a host of events at all four campuses.

However, not all of the students were feeling the love.

At each campus, the KSA had set up of free food booths, information tables, and activities for students to participate in, including a concert by Karl Wolf at Cram Jam 2010 in Surrey. Some students, such as Jenna Robson, felt that most of the events seemed to be concentrated in Surrey.

“I didn’t really notice anything here for Welcome Week,” said Robson, a first-year student at the Langley campus. “It seems like all the real stuff, like Cram Jam, happens in Surrey and it’s hard to get there between classes and work.”

Rachelle Tomm, also a first-year student, had a similar opinion about Richmond campus activities.

“I didn’t really actually participate. I looked outside and saw people jumping and stuff but I didn’t really know what it was for. I didn’t know it was part of welcome week so I just went on to my classes.”

But Tomm still enjoyed the events at Cram Jam.

“I went to the Karl Wolf concert in Surrey and loved it. His music is awesome, and plus it wasn’t too too busy so I got to go really close to the stage. I just wish the Richmond campus could have that same fun energy as Surrey did.”

Related: Welcome Week in photos.

Richmond students welcomed back with food, info

Both new and returning students were greeted by slices of pizza and air brushed tattoos, when they walked through the doors of Kwantlen’s Richmond campus this week. The food and festivities are part of the Kwantlen Student Association’s Welcome Back Week, which gave students a chance to get familiar with the different services available this semester and get free food.

Students had to wait patiently for their pizza, which came from the Fresh Slice on Granville Street, because the location in the Lansdowne Mall was closed because of a planned power outage. Vanessa Knight, the director of student life for the KSA, hoped the event planned for Thursday at the Langley campus would go smoother. Students at the Cloverdale campus were to be treated to a pancake breakfast and guest speakers for the next month, said Knight.

Among the displays at Richmond was one from Apex Martial Arts, which is offering students 10 classes for $60, hosted at the Yyoga studio on the Richmond campus. “It’s an awesome deal for students,” said Marcy Hilario, assistant kickboxing coach and assistant kids martial arts coach at Apex. “Regularly, if you go to a martial arts studio it’s $25 for one class.”

A free drop-in session will be offered Wednesday, Jan. 13, with the 10 sessions starting the following week.

Hip-hop dancing and pilates will also be offered in the studio: for a complete schedule check the Student Health Improvement Plan’s website .

Amanda of Tattoos For Now was turning out the air brushed tattoos all day. She encouraged students to check out the web site and try out the tanning the studio offers. (Kyle Vinoly photo)

This student decided to go for something besides a panther, which the artist said was the most popular tattoo of the day.(Kyle Vinoly photo)

Students didn't seem to mind waiting for the free pizza to arrive from down town. (Kyle Vinoly photo)

There were student volunteers on hand to help guide curious students through the various booths. (Kyle Vinoly photo)

Vanessa Knight said that feeding the trade students at the Cloverdale campus is a frightening experience. (Kyle Vinoly photo)

KSA provides free stuff for students as part of Richmond’s ‘Welcome Week’

Richmond students were welcomed back to classes on Tuesday by a wide array of information on free school services, employment opportunities and every student’s favorite — free stuff, courtesy of the Kwantlen Student Association.

The festivities were part of Welcome Week, which is going on at campuses all week.

Free stuff included airbrush tattooing, pizza and giveaways, including a contest for a home theatre system. Students like free food, said Reena Bali, Richmond’s KSA campus representative, who added that they’ve found that free food results in a better student turnout.

The KSA booths displayed information for students about benefit plans, free services and a confirmation they are currently fighting for the UPass. At a nearby table, the Student Health Improvement Program (SHIP) program was giving away an iPod, but required contestants to do push-ups in order to enter the contest.

Other tables featured fitness centres recruiting new members and offering free swag. Big Sister and other mentor programs set up booths displaying information on volunteer opportunities. The Canadian Border Services Agency also had its own table, recruiting student employees.

The Richmond KSA began planning the event in December during the winter holidays, said Bali. She estimated that they spent less than half of the event’s $1,500 budget, adding that sponsors were easier to find this year, because of Kwantlen’s new university status.

For those who missed the events Tuesday in Richmond, Bali said the KSA will probably be giving away free snacks tomorrow. Thursday, Rock Band will be set up in the rotunda around noon on a large projector screen and the KSA will be giving away snacks and prizes.

“Today, I think, was a huge success due to all the planning and everyone’s hard work,” she said.

“And I hope the student’s liked it.”