Food and lots of fun. That’s what the Office of Student Life and Oriflamme are offering to new students and their families at this year’s Welcome Week.

“The goal of Welcome Week is to help new students and their families relax and to welcome them as a part of the SLU family,” said David Clark, assistant director of Student Life and director of Welcome Week activities.

Members of the student organization, Oriflamme, wearing bright orange, helped new students move in today. They also have divided freshman into 54 groups of about 20-30 students. Two of these groups are for transfer students. These groups will be meeting at various times throughout the week.

Dan Manion, president of Oriflamme said, “Oriflamme members are well prepared to answer questions and help students make friends. We want to help the new students loosen up and have a good time.”

Oriflamme members have been training and getting ready for Welcome Week since last Sunday.

“Welcome Week is very social. We want everyone to have a good time and meet each other. The purpose is not very academic, which is the difference between Welcome Week and SLU101,” Clark said.

This afternoon while residents have orientation at their respective residence halls, commuter students are having a tailgate get together at the Laclede Garage, followed by a commuter orientation in the BMC.

Welcome Week will officially kick off tonight at the Robert R. Hermann Stadium with a “Billiken Welcome.”

The soccer team will be introduced and Billikens basketball coach Lorenzo Romar will speak. Oriflamme leaders will be introduced and new students will meet in their Oriflamme groups after this event.

Later tonight, Oriflamme will be also be putting on the Orilympics on the baseball field. This event is not at all serious. It is for the students to act silly and have a relaxed, enjoyable time, Manion said.

Tomorrow students will have orientation and lunch with their individual colleges.

There will also be a new student picnic in the evening and a square dance on top of the Olive-Compton Parking Garage.

Welcome Mass will be Saturday evening with a university-wide picnic to follow.

Afterwards comedian John Pinette will entertain in the BMC. Students are invited to Rock the Plaza in Koenig Plaza following Pinette.

Last year Welcome Week was until Sunday, but this year it will end on Saturday.

“Attendance on Sunday in the past years has become very low because most parents leave Saturday. So instead of the welcome brunch and the welcome Mass being on Sunday, we moved the Mass to Saturday night and added the University Picnic,” said Phil Lyons, director of Student Life.

All Welcome Week activities are sponsored and paid for by the Office of Student Life, including Oriflamme activities.

“We encourage all students to come out and participate in all of the events. We are looking forward to welcoming the new freshman, transfer students and all their families,” Clark said.

Upperclassmen are welcome to attend all activities of Welcome Week with the exception of the Billiken Welcome tonight and the new student picnic tomorrow.