While January 1, 2005 was months ago, September 13, 2005 represented the beginning of a new academic year at Northwestern. One of my colleagues mentioned recently that she thought this class of new students had been “welcomed” more than any other. Well, not to be left out on a trend, let me WELCOME you to the new school year. Whether you are a new or returning student, we are glad to have you on campus and want to welcome you to our “house”, the Norris Center. Really, it's YOUR house too as the Norris Center is the community center for all of Northwestern.

You may have seen or heard our marketing slogan for the new year – “Think Inside the Box.”   While certainly poking fun at a buzz phrase and maybe at our “boxy” building as well, the real message in the slogan is a challenge to you to explore what the Norris Center has to offer. We hope you'll do lots of things in “The Box” – eat, play, learn, work, shop, relax, join, hang out, and of course, think.

Within “the Box” of Norris on any given day, you might buy tickets for a campus event at the Norris Box Office, grab a bite to eat between class, take in a concert or film, check your email with the wireless service throughout the building, attend a student organization meeting, buy books or purple clothing at the Bookstore, deposit that check from Mom and Dad in your account at USBank,, photocopy a classmate's notes from the class you missed two days ago, relax with a game of pool or table tennis in the Gameroom, throw a pot in Artica Studios, join a student organization, or sit and study for that mid term test with a hot cup of joe close at hand from Higher Grounds.   Norris is designed to meet many of your day to day needs on campus and to provide out-of-class learning opportunities that will challenge you in new ways.

On behalf of the over 200 full time and student staff of the Norris University Center, let me welcome you one more time to Northwestern.   We hope you will make Norris your “box” away from home!

Rick Thomas
Executive Director, Norris University Center

Over 1,000 new Northwestern students packed Norris University Center the night before classes began.   On Monday, September 19, Freshmen and other new students explored all five floors of Norris, getting acquainted with the various aspects of their student center on the shores of Lake Michigan.

Upon arrival, the class of 2009 was given a Passport in which they were instructed to bring with them throughout the building and get stamped.   The students were also given a trendy drawstring bag to put all of the free goodies they collected throughout their exploration of Norris.   While traveling through Norris, students received free samples of food from Willies Food Court, free drinks from the C-store, free games of pool in the Gameroom and other information, coupons and promotional items.

Upon getting their passports stamped, students gathered in the 2nd floor's Louis Room for more entertainment and the big drawing of prizes.   Wildcat Idol, a Karaoke competition with the live band, the Karaoke Dokies, was a huge hit.   Upon arrival to Norris for this event, students were encouraged to sign up for this competition.   Ten singers were given the chance to sing before their new classmates with three judges selecting the top 3 singers on pre-

	Students enjoy "Wildcat Idol" in the Louis Room at Norris@Nite.

determined criteria.   The judges who volunteered their time for this fun event included Dean of Students Mary Desler, ASG President Patrick Keenan-Devlin, and A&O Director of Concerts Doug Singer.   These top 3 singers selected a second song to perform and then by round of applause, the winner was crowned.

Other activities in the Louis Room included a Bungee Bull ride, a Cash Cube for prizes and more free food.   Right after the Wildcat Idol was selected, the Prize Drawing winners were announced.   Prizes were donated from various Norris University Center services as well as Evanston establishments.   The most popular prizes were a $500 Gift Card to the Norris Bookstore donated by the Bookstore and an iPod Mini donated by FedEx Kinko's.    The grand ballroom stayed packed with students right until the end of the event.  

Now that new students have been formally introduced to Norris and all Norris has to offer, from services to recreation to student organizations, the beginning of an important relationship has been established.   This meeting of students and student center was the perfect way for New Student Week to end for the new residents of Northwestern University.  

To see pictures from Norris@Nite, click here.

Lake Geneva, WS - The Center Managers, Student Supervisors and full-time staff of Norris University Center all got a little bit closer during the weekend of September 9-10.   Thirty-one student workers and eleven full-time staff members were bused up to Covenant Harbor, a retreat center right on the shores of Lake Geneva for this two-day retreat.  

Through participatory sessions, personality evaluations, and team-building exercises, the new and returning supervisors of Norris developed a stronger bond with each other.   This retreat gave everyone involved the chance to start the upcoming 2005-06 school year off fresh.

The theme of this year's JumpSTARt training was "Raising the Bar on Customer Service." All the students participated in many different sessions giving constant feedback throughout the retreat.   Center Managers and Student Supervisors will be working together and with dozens of other student staff and full-time staff to make the various customers of Norris - students, staff, facility and alumni - feel good about their visit to Norris University Center.  

To see pictures from the Jumpstart Retreat, click here.

Notable News

WELCOME:
• Mike Affeldt, Facilities Coordinator
• Dan Foley, Technical Services Director
• Sarah Millermaier, Events Planning Coordinator
• Sara Thompson, SOFO Accounting Assistant
• Welcome (and welcome back) to all of the Center Managers and Student Supervisors of Norris. We couldn't do it without you!

Fall Quarter Birthdays
Full-time Staff:
October - Gigi Greene (7)
November - James McHaley (3), Chris Gargiulo (6), Rick Thomas (10), Dornette Ashley (13), Charles DePondt (26)
December - Dan Foley (5), Melinda Weaver (25), Gabby Valdez (26), Natalie Gillespie (28), Mita Masud (31)