Welcome Week

Welcome, Vikings! We have a full lineup to help get you ready for a fantastic year ahead.

Thursday, September 5

Center for Justice and Liberation Luncheon
12-1:30 pm 
MLK Room, Ellison Campus Center

Interested in getting involved on campus? Looking to learn more about identity-based student clubs? Join the Center for Justice and Liberation (CJL) at our Meet & Greet Lunch! Connect with CJL staff and student leaders, learn about our program offerings, and find community at SSU! Lunch will be provided. We hope to see you there!

 

Adorable Animals Petting Zoo
11 am-1 pm 
North Campus Quad

Add a little joy in your life with the New England Party Animals Petting Zoo!  Bunnies, Guinea pigs, hamsters, baby chicks and more!  Stop by the area outside the Frist Year Experience Office (North Campus, Library Quad) and spend some quality time with these cuddly critters. 
Sponsored by First Year Experience

Friday, September 6

First Fridays First Gen Social
First Year Experience

 

Blacklight Dodgeball
Campus Life and Recreation
8 pm-midnight, Gassett Fitness Center Rec Courts

Teams of 6-10 people will compete under the glow of the blacklight to determine the champion. Neon t-shirts and glow materials will be provided. Guests over 18 are free with valid photo ID. You don’t want to miss this annual campus tradition! Register in advance.

Saturday, September 7

Trolley Tour of Salem
Hosted by Orientation
Leaving at 11 am and 1 pm from Marsh bus stop

New to Salem? Come and join our Orientation Leaders for a tour of Salem on the Salem Trolley!

 

Student Involvement and Center for Justice and Liberation Leader Training
Required training for student organization leaders

 

Womens Volleyball vs. Norwich
11 am
O’Keefe Center

 

Womens Field Hockey vs. Salve Regina
12 pm 
Alumni Field, O’Keefe Center

 

Women’s Soccer

4 pm 
Alumni Field, O’Keefe Center

Monday, September 9

Student Involvement Fair
Student Involvement and Operations 
11 am-1 pm 
North Quad

Join Student Involvement and Operations for a fun afternoon of music, giveaways, and getting to know How to get involved! All 50+ Student organizations and offices on campus will be available to connect with you and show you about various engagement opportunities

 

ECC Open House
Offices in Ellison campus Center
9/9-9/13 
11 am-4 pm

Come see what the ECC has to offer! Meet the staff from each office and get to know all the services in the building.

 

Group Ex Fitness Classes Kickoff
All day
Gassett Fitness Center

The Gassett Fitness Center offers weekly group exercise classes as a benefit of your membership which is covered by student fees for registered students. Our nationally certified instructors are here to welcome you to class and to motivate, encourage, and challenge you – helping you achieve much more than on your own. Full class schedule and class descriptions can be found here.

Tuesday, September 10

Backyard Bash
Sponsored by Residence Life
3-6 pm 
Marsh Quad

Join us for a BBQ, a mechanical bull, inflatable obstacle course, inflatable Hungry Hungry Hippo, lawn games, and music for you all to enjoy, hosted by Residence Life. We look forward to seeing you there! 

 

Student Employment Fair
Career Services
3-5 pm
Ellison Campus Center

Opportunities include on-campus work-study and part-time employment, local off-campus part-time employment, volunteer and internship opportunities. We have partnered with Residence Life via a raffle that can only be retrieved from the fair and redeemed at the Bash.

 

Womens Field Hockey vs. Anna Maria
7 pm 
Alumni Field, O’Keefe Center

Wednesday, September 11

Inclusive Excellence Welcome Mixer
4-6 pm
Veterans Hall, Ellison Campus Center
Join Inclusive Excellence for free food, music, games/activities and giveaways! The event is free and open to all.

 

Mens Soccer vs. Plymouth St.
4 pm 
Alumni Field, O’Keefe Center

Thursday, September 12

Ask a Dietitian
Gassett Fitness Center
Campus Life and Recreation
3:30-5:30 pm

Campus Life and Recreation/Gassett Fitness Center is partnering with your campus Dietitian to offer advice! Stop by at the time most convenient for you between 3:30-5:30 pm to ask about any diet and health related questions. No need to pre-register.

 

Big Prize Bingo
Program Council
6-8 pm 
Veterans Hall, Ellison Campus Center

Join Program Council and Student Involvement and Operations as we welcome students back for the year! Play varying rounds of bingo to win prizes like a Nintendo Switch! This event is FREE for all Salem State students! Please be aware that this event is first-come, first-served.

Friday, September 13

Exploratory Welcome and Meet the Puppies

First Year Experience
1-3 pm
Alumni Plaza

Saturday, September 14

Visit Downtown Salem!
Hosted by Orientation
10 am-4 pm 
Shuttle pickup and drop off at Marsh, Bowditch and downtown

Enjoy discovering downtown Salem and all it offers with shuttle service to and from campus.

 

Womens Soccer vs. Wentworth
12 pm 
Alumni Field, O’Keefe Center

 

Mens Soccer vs. Suffolk
3 pm
Alumni Field, O’Keefe Center

Monday, September 16

Meet your Major
First Year Experience
11 am-1 pm
First-year and new transfer students will meet with their academic department as part of the annual Mett Your Major event.  This mandatory event for all new students is an opportunity to meet their faculty advisor, review major requirements, meet upperclass students in the major, discuss minors/concentrations/internships, and more
*Mandatory for all NEW students (Undergraduate Day program) 
Hosted by First Year Experience

 

Karate with the Dean
Campus Life and Recreation and Dean of Students
Gassett Fitness Center

Discover the art of traditional karate. With over 37 years of experience, Dean Newton has a 2nd degree Black Belt and will guide you on an empowering journey. Join our class to learn self-defense techniques, enhance self-discipline, and build unshakable self-confidence. This traditional art form will not only strengthen your body but also nourish your mind and soul. Don’t miss this incredible opportunity for personal growth and empowerment. Register here.

Tuesday, September 17

"Who We Are" LASO (Latin American Student Association) Meet & Greet
4:30-6pm
Ellison Campus Center Underground

Get to know the LASO E-board and what exciting programming we have planned for the next few weeks! 

Wednesday, September 18

Career Services Walk-In Career Closet Hours Begin
11-3 pm
Ellison Campus Center Room 108

Starting September 18 and 19, the Career Closet has walk-In hours from 11 am-3 pm every Wednesday and Thursday during the academic year. Students can visit the Career Closet and take home 5 articles of career-ready attire. Clothing is free to keep.

 

Womens Volleyball vs. Fisher
6 pm
O’Keefe Center

 

Womens Field Hockey vs. Johnson and Wales

4:30 pm 
Alumni Field, O’Keefe Center

Thursday, September 19

Career Services Walk-In Career Closet Hours Begin
11-3 pm
Ellison Campus Center Room 108

Starting September 18 and 19, the Career Closet has walk-In hours from 11 am-3 pm every Wednesday and Thursday during the academic year. Students can visit the Career Closet and take home 5 articles of career-ready attire. Clothing is free to keep.

Cafe Connections Karaoke
Student Involvement and Operations
6:30-8:30 pm 
Forten Cafe

Come belt out your favorite songs or grab a snack while watching a friend!

 

Craft Night
Campus Life and Recreation
6-8 pm
Gassett Fitness center

We are partnering with Hammer & Stain North Shore to bring craft night to you! Participants will have their choice of designs to decorate their living space. Register today to choose your design.

Friday, September 20

LASO's "Rep Your Flag Party" in honor of Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month
5-9 pm
Marsh Quad

Raise your flag to the sky at our Flag Fever party! Let's celebrate our identity and culture, in the most Latino way possible, with good music and a lot of fun. 

Saturday, September 21

Mens Soccer vs. Fitchburg St.
1 pm 
Alumni Field, O’Keefe Center

Monday, September 23

Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month Keynote 

11 am-12:30 pm
Veterans Hall
featuring Alejandra Campoverdi, author of "First Gen: A Memoir"

Join us for the 2024 Hispanic and LatinX Heritage Month Keynote featuring Alejandra Campoverdi, Advocate and National Bestselling Author of FIRST GEN, in which she examines the emotional toll of social mobility on those she refers to as “First and Onlys.”

Thursday, September 26

Chocolate Chat and Bonfire
Hosted by Residence Life
7-8:30 pm 
Marsh Lawn