As the 95th year for Arkansas State University at Jonesboro gets underway, activities for Welcome Week (http://asunews.astate.edu/WelcomeWeek04.htm) will begin Friday, Aug. 20, and continue through Aug. 30. Classes begin Monday, Aug. 23.

Operation Move-In, sponsored by the Student Activities Board (SAB) and the Student Government Association (SGA), will be held from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., on Saturday, Aug. 21, as students move into their residence halls across campus.

The Craighead County chapter of the ASU Alumni Association will host its annual "Watering Hole" activity from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., providing bottled water and assistance to students moving into the residence halls.

The First Year Convocation for the Class of 2008 will be held Sunday, Aug. 22, from 2 until 3 p.m. at Riceland Hall. This is a new activity at ASU. Students, parents and families are encouraged to attend the brief ceremony which involves faculty and administration.

Residence Life will sponsor a luau at Twin Towers that evening, beginning at 8 p.m.

During the first day of classes, Aug. 23, Sodexho is sponsoring a free cookout for ASU students from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Student Union Courtyard, where SAB is also sponsoring Music on the Courtyard from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Later in the day, the SAB will host Game Night at the Student Union at 6 p.m.

Wednesday, Aug. 25, begins with the annual Community and Organizational Fair, where ASU and community businesses, vendors and organizations display their wares and products to ASU students. The fair will be held on the lawn of the ASU library from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. It is sponsored by the SAB.

On Friday, Aug. 27, with the "Go Greek" Party will be held at the ASU Pavilion, beginning at 10 p.m., sponsored by the Greek letter sororities and fraternities.

Saturday, Aug. 28, will feature an afternoon of "Praise on the Yard and Expo 2004," sponsored by Zeta Phi Beta and the United Voices Gospel Choir at the Student Union Center Court. The week wraps up with the Black Students Association's Fall Explosion 2004 at Unity Park.

Numerous other activities, speakers and dinners are planned by the Missionary Baptist Student Fellowship, the Baptist Collegiate Ministries, and the Wesley United Methodist Campus Ministry throughout Welcome Week.