IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 21, 2007
CONTACT: Gordon Ovenshine:

Office: 724.738.4854

Cell: 724.991.8302

gordon.ovenshine@sru.edu

NEWS ADVISORY FOR EDITORS

SRU welcomes 1,500 new students Friday-Sunday

          Numerous feature stories featuring students from your coverage area will unfold Friday through Sunday when more than 1,500 freshmen move into their new homes at Slippery Rock University during “Week of Welcome: Oceans of Opportunity.” 

          This is the largest freshman class in more than 10 years and one of the most academically accomplished in history; 34 percent of entering freshmen graduated in the top 25 percent of their high school class, with a 3.26 grade-point average.

          Opportunities for feature and news stories include:

          Move-in – the annual event where freshmen try to disprove the laws of physics and cram 3,000 square feet of stuff into their residence hall room. (Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

          Jud Laipply, the YouTube comedian famous for his “Evolution of Dance” video, will present at the official welcome ceremony. (Friday at 8 p.m.)

          Block party activities to help “break the ice,” including a mechanical bull, bungee trampoline, caricaturists and airbrush T-shirts (Saturday from 5 – 9 p.m.)

          Margot Morrell, author of “Shackelton’s Way,” the book incoming students read as part of their summer reading program, kicks off the campus literary discussion of her work. (Saturday at noon.) 

           A complete line up of Week of Welcome events is attached. To set up interviews or for a guide on campus, call me at 724.738.4845 or 724.991-8302.

          A story you can ONLY do at Slippery Rock University. When SRU’s students, faculty and staff pick up their new ID cards this fall, they will become part of history – the first University worldwide to employ dual technology (magstrips on cards and a contactless token on cell phones) as part of the campus ID and debit card program. Call me to discuss this cutting-edge technology being introduced first in Pennsylvania at Slippery Rock University.

Slippery Rock University is Pennsylvania’s premier public residential university. Slippery Rock University provides students with a comprehensive learning experience that intentionally combines academic instruction with enhanced educational and learning opportunities that make a positive difference in their lives.