Tusculum campus experiencing an ‘Orange Rush’

Tusculum has experienced an “Orange Rush” for the past week.

“Orange Rush” has been a week-long set of activities to help students enjoy the first Block Break of the 2013-14 academic year as well as serve others and learn valuable life skills.

Students search their boards during the "Nettie"-style Bingo Monday evening.

Activities began Monday with the kick-off event – a scavenger hunt around campus and “Nettie”- themed Bingo games with prizes.

Students learned about community organizations where they can provide service in their interest areas durig the Community Organization Fair on Tuesday. Students had an opportunity to put their service commitment into action with the Pioneer Mentoring Program that afternoon. The Pioneer Mentoring Program involves college students working with third graders from a local elementary school once a week.

Alan Corley, chief of the Tusculum Volunteer Fire Department, speaks during the 9-11 Reflection Chapel Service.

The 12th anniversary of September 11 was marked with a special chapel service in front of the Niswonger Commons. The Reflection Service featured representatives from local emergency agencies sharing their remembrances about Sept. 11. Participating were Mark Foulks, chief of the Greeneville Fire Department; Robert Sane, director of the Greeneville-Greene County EMS; Danny Greene, chief of the Tusculum Fire Department and Dr. Alan Corley, chief of the Tusculum Volunteer Fire Department, who is also a trustee of the college.

Students had the opportunity to answer the national call of service for Patriot Day by volunteering at the Tabernacle Soup Kitchen. Issues of hunger were also in the spotlight that evening at the OxFam Hunger Banquet. A representative from the Second Harvet Food Bank shared information about hunger in this area and ways that students can volunteer or be an advocate for hunger issues.

The banquet itself provides a vivid illustration of the distribution of food resources in the world. Those attending were divided into three groups – low income, middle income and high income to represent the ratios of those populations internationally. The low income groups had water and rice without eating utensils; the middle income group were provided beans and cornbread with access to utensils and the high income group were served a balanced meal.

Thursday was Nettie Fowler McCormick Service Day on campus.  In the morning, freshmen and transfer students in Tusculum Experience classes as well as members of the Bonner Leader student service organizaiton and the President’s Society student ambassador group provided a morning of service to community service organizations, schools and churches.

Students get ready to start a game during "Gamers Coliseum" on Friday.

During the afternoon, students could tie-dye their Orange Rush shirts in the Library Bowl and Gamers Coliseum, a popular event, featuring video, card and board games began in the Chalmers Conference Center. The evening meal was a student-planned dinner with an international flavor that was served in the Library Bowl.

Gamers Coliseum continued all day Friday while friendly competitios between residence halls began.

An Organizational Fair provided the new students an opportunity to learn about the various organizations on campus in which they can become involved.

Friday afternoon featured sessions for students to learn some valuable life skills. Business professor Dr. Michelle Freeman led a workshop about personal finance and Robin Lay, director of career serivces, offered workshops about how to get started on job searches, including tips to find internships.

The evening activities will begin with a pig roast in the Library Bowl and the Psychology Club will sponsor the showing of a horror movie in the Bowl after dark.

On Saturday, students will have opportunities to provide service at various organizations and the competitions between residence halls will continue. An outdoor basketball intramural tournament is scheduled all day and students can share their talent in open mic time in the Library Bowl.

In the evening, a lacrosse clinic is scheduled to introduce the campus to Tusculum’s newest varsity sport as well as a DJ Dance Party.

“Orange Rush” activities will conclude on Sunday morning with an interfaith worship service.