The 98-degree weather beamed onto the quad in front of the new 2100 building. Not a cloud in the baby blue sky, not so much as a breeze rolling down the tanned hills, was there to protect from the oppressive Livermore sun.
This was, for sure, a day for air conditioning. But many settled for the cover of tents.
This hub on campus was teeming with students. Hundreds of them. The patios outside the cafeteria were packed with people. Officers of the Las Positas College Student Government, hosts of this occasion, set up misters to spread chilly droplets for parched students.
BALLERS: New women’s basketball assistant coach Ashley Hart (center) is flaned by one of her players Amaya Jiao (left) and new head coach coach Tracey Walker (right) at the team’s table during Welcome Back Week. (Photo by Luke Vavuris/ The Express).
The water fountain in front of the science building turned into a lounge area and the visual of the water streaming provided a sense of cool on a sweltering afternoon. Tents lined the pristine concrete walkway, some 30 tables creating a pathway of information.
Along the path were small inflatable palm trees, as well as mini beach balls hung above the tents. Balloons in the form of Hawaiian shirts were strung along the tents. At the end near the 2100 building also sat two massive beach balls, as well as two different food trucks, one providing tacos from Ta’Con Todo and snow cones from the other, once again helping alleviate the blistering heat.
In many ways, the heat, the beauty of the clear weather, the green grass and blue sky and smiling faces, proved the perfect ambiance for the event’s theme: Tropical Welcome Back Week.
The first day of Welcome Back Week, on September 4th, introduced students to the bounty of resources and offerings on campus. LPCSG’s way of introducing the 8,375 student body – both new students and many of the unaware returning students — to the culture and opportunities at their school. Student-run clubs made their pitch. Classmates made acquaintances. Students felt the presence of their student government.
All of it carried the same aim: to create a better sense of community on campus.
“It’s been statistically shown,” said Suzanne Kohler, senior administrative assistant in Admissions and Records, “that students are more likely to be successful when they feel a sense of community, and when they feel that people in higher positions than they are care about them.”
Community is a stated priority of LPC’s leadership, led by President Dyrell Foster. Their hope is to create an environment that makes people want to stay on campus. Initiatives like LPC’s Caring Campus are aimed at bringing communal bonding to the forefront in hopes students have more fulfilling experiences on campus — which leads to their success. They want to change its reputation as a commuter school for those just passing through – students who come to campus for class and leave as soon as they end.
The kick-off of Welcome Back Week prompted some to stick around.
“I really don’t talk to anyone,” student Zuhar Ranman said, “because I just go to class to come back, right? So, seeing this, I was gonna go straight home, but I came here instead because I wanted to check it out.”
HOME GROWN: Students from the Nutrition Club recruited new members at Welcome Back week. (Photo by Luke Vavuris/ The Express)
The booths and tables and food trucks all have the same goal in mind for the campus — to bring the student body together and to see the resources the school has to offer.
Said Jeanette D’Addabbo, a business administration major: “It kind of just gives you an excuse to put yourself out there, find your own resources. I definitely consider this a success and something that every student should go to.”
This was Day 1 of Welcome Back Week. Day 2 is scheduled for September 5. At the same time. On the same quad. Under the same burning sun. With the same goal of bringing a campus together.
“Tomorrow, too?” Ranman said. “Shoot, I’m gonna show up tomorrow, yeah.”
The expected temperature: 102 degrees.
Top photo: Tents lined the quad as various campus organizations introduced themselves to students. (Photos by Luke Vavuris/ The Express)
Jakob Arnarsson is the Editor-in-Chief of The Express. Follow him on X, formally Twitter, @JakobA2004. James Sevilla contributed to this article.
