February 21, 2012

By Matt Ingram

Students in the College of Arts and Science preparing for a regular week should reevaluate their calendars.

Monday marked the beginning of the College of Arts and Science Week, an annual celebration hosted by the Arts and Science Student Council to honor its students and let them know everything the council has to offer.

Working in close conjunction with the Arts and Science Alumni Organization, the A&S Council is doing everything it can to make sure students are aware of and excited for the week. One benefit of working with ASAO is that the council can celebrate with more than just current students, council spokesman Ryan Morrow said.

“ASAO is helping us a lot,” Morrow said. “Not only is it for present students, but alumni as well — a week of recognition.”

Morrow said one of the primary goals of this year’s week is to get A&S students in the know about their college and its organizations and events. He also said many students don’t know about A&S Week or even that the College of Arts and Science has a student council.

Freshman psychology major Lauren Gillespie said she was excited about being a part of A&S, as well as A&S week.

“I love to go out and meet people,” she said. “It sounds great, especially the scholarship part. Who doesn’t want to get involved in that?”

The week began Monday with the A&S Talent Show in Jesse Wrench Auditorium, where eight different acts were performed by A&S students for judges and a chance to win bookstore gift cards.

The council will award scholarships to student recipients at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday in Stotler Lounge. The ceremony emcees will also be announcing the college’s Chalk Awards, student-nominated commendations of professors, advisers and teaching assistants.

Teams of six to eight will compete in a Quiz Bowl from 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday in The Shack. Teams will answer general knowledge questions, competing for $25 bookstore gift cards.

ASAO is sponsoring mock interviews in the Student Success Center on Thursday. Interviews are geared toward A&S students and will be held from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Council members will hand out A&S Week T-shirts in the MU Student Center.

“We’re handing them out until noon, but they’ll probably all be gone by 11:15 a.m.,” Morrow said.

Council President Drake Douglas said he is excited for the students in the A&S and said this week is an example of how the A&S Council can bring its students together.

“Even though there are 9,000 people in the college, there are a lot of cool ways to come together and interact with each other,” Douglas said.