‘Hakuna Matata’ brings no worries

With students back on campus and football season underway, it is clear that the school year has officially begun. Each fall brings new opportunities, new friendships, a fresh start; and what better way to ease everyone back into the swing of things then kick it off with the annual Welcome Back Week?

Campus Activities Board hosted "Hakuna Matata-It means no worries" Welcome Back Week from September 12-16. Each day there were activities for the students to enjoy across campus, including a concert by Natalie Stovall.

The week started on Monday with an evening showing of The Blind Side on the Quad. Kelly Lothrop, a junior nursing major and Chair of Minor Events for CAB, organized Tuesday's event—free smoothies from Party Vision.

In addition to free smoothies, students had the opportunity to win Tumblers (for those of you who think a tumbler is an online blog, they are in fact tall, plastic drinking glasses) by answering trivia questions on The Lion King and CAB. Lothrop was assisted by Sarah Murray, Treasurer of CAB, and Juliette Nonnan, both members of the Class of 2013.

To help everyone get through the midway slump, Wednesday brought about free BBQ wings. Following the BBQ was a concert starring Natalie Stovall and Corey Wager, two country singers. As an incentive for people to attend, CAB offered free cowboy hats to the first 100 people. Guy Sergi, 2014 Class President, attended the concert and was left speechless with the girls' performances, especially that of Corey Wager's. "She was unbelievable," he said, "great vocals, she took my breath away."

Thursday night the coffee shop was filled with eager students, gathered to support their friends singing karaoke. From singing James Blunt's "You're Beautiful" to Taylor Swift's "Love Story", Saint Anselm students demonstrated their talent, confidence, and spontaneity. As a reward for the performances, participants were given a Hakuna Matata t-shirt. Finally, Welcome Back Week ended, with air brushed tattoos, which was a big hit for all the students.

Overall, it was a very successful week. Kelsey Fournier '12, Chair of CAB, and Martha Lombard '13, Vice Chair, were very instrumental in organizing this year's Welcome Back Week. However, both Fournier and Lombard voiced that they could not have run this without the help of the other members of the board.

"We look forward to this every year," said Fournier, "it's great seeing everyone come to the events and having a good time."

The week's motto: "Hakuna Matata: It means no worries" certainly held true, for all the students could be seen laughing, and smiling, as if there wasn't a worry in the world.