The University of Alabama resumed classes Wednesday, Aug. 21, and the College of Arts & Sciences welcomed its students back with a sweet treat. At Doughnuts with the Dean, students took the opportunity to talk to A&S faculty, staff and students while also easing into the school year.
Sarah Stitt, a freshman majoring in communicative disorders with a human development minor, said her first day at UA was a lot easier than expected.
“I didn’t really expect people to have doughnut tables and direction tables, so it’s been super easy and nice,” Stitt said.
Senior Kate Walmsley, who is majoring in psychology with minors in human development and sociology, said UA has always been super welcoming for students’ first days of the semester.
“When you don’t know what’s going on, just ask somebody,” Walmsley said. “Everyone’s super nice. I’ve met lots of random people just because I didn’t know where a building was freshman year. Everyone’s willing to help which is really nice.”
According to Capstone International Center instructor Megan Legerski, students aren’t the only ones who get excited — faculty love the first day too.
“Everybody has someplace to go, somewhere to be,” Legerski said. “There’s energy about going to class and learning new things. It’s great to see thousands of people here after a summer when it was only us [faculty and staff].”
In the Department of Modern Languages & Classics, Associate Professor Matt Feminella agrees that it’s refreshing to see so many new faces after a long summer.
“It’s vibrant and alive and everybody’s excited to be here and you feed off that energy,” Feminella said.
As a College of Arts & Sciences ambassador, junior Jake Dueland also looks forward to first day excitement and the events that come with it.
“The first day is really exciting because you get to see a lot of new faces and you get to see your friends coming back from last year,” Dueland said. “There’s a whole lot of things going on like these free donuts that we have.”
To celebrate the first week of classes, the College will have two other events this week: Cookies with the College on Thursday between 1-3 p.m. and Back to School Biscuits on Friday between 9-11 a.m.
