Volunteers persevered under the hot sun to ensure students kept their cool on the first two days of school. | Nine Nguyen/The Daily Cougar
UH faculty, students, and organizations manned tents around campus during the first two days of the semester to help inform, direct and ease the transition for new and returning Cougars.
Cougar First Impressions, which is in its ninth year and sponsored by Staff Council, is one of the many Cat’s Back celebrations going on this week to get students ready for the new school year.
“We want to have an absolute welcoming impression,” said Mike Pede, president of the Alumni Association.
With many new students coming from community colleges and high schools, UH is the first taste they get of a campus this size.
“On the first day everyone is so scattered,” said volunteer Gaby Solis.
“These tents help the community of students know that we care about them.”
Besides the stress of having to find classes, getting used to the new campus and the start of classes, students were also faced with the heat.
CFI volunteers helped alleviate this by offering free bottled water to students who stopped by.
“It’s pretty hot. They’re nice to do that,” said Clint Kirchoff, a chemistry and economics junior, upon taking a cup of water from a nearby tent.
Overall, both volunteers and students said they enjoyed this year’s CFI.
“A lot of people have been really friendly this year,” said geology major Jorge Trevino. “A lot of people have been helping me.”
Cougars wanting to get more involved on campus and celebrate the new semester can attend the yearly Cat’s Back Event: Be One taking place from 4-7 p.m. today in the University Center.
Planned Cat’s Back activities for this year’s event include a pep rally, music, games and an organizations fair.
