Hullabaloo Hello is an exciting new start to academic year

As a new semester unfolds, so does a new tradition. Make way for a helluva Hullabaloo Hello!

Facilitated by the Office of First-Year Experience in Newcomb-Tulane College, Hullabaloo Hello is a celebratory welcome to Tulane beginning the moment new students arrive on campus. Hullabaloo Hello combines move-in, orientation programming, signature events and so much more. The celebration will continue throughout the first two weeks of classes and conclude with First Fest on Sept. 1 and the Fall Activities Expo on Sept. 3.

The festivities kicked off last week with a variety of programming, new and old. Returning programs like Academic Open Houses and Reading Project discussions introduced students to the faculty who support their transition to college. Other hallmarks of Hullabaloo Hello, Welcome to the Wave and the President’s Convocation for New Students, united the incoming class for the first time as they discovered what it means to be a member of the Tulane community.

At Convocation, following a ceremonial address from President Michael A. Fitts, students were led by a traditional New Orleans brass band to a vibrant block party on McAlister Way.

A new addition to the orientation lineup, off-campus excursions invited students to explore the city they now call home. Mossy swamps, historic neighborhoods, world-class museums and picturesque parks were among the many excursion destinations. Students explored cultural destinations including the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, the Contemporary Arts Center, the Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience, VUE Orleans, and the Museum of Free People of Color. A collaborative mapping activity challenged students to reflect on their explorations and discover the city's cultural significance. Stronghold Studios, a local business known for its creative Mardi Gras House floats, transformed Cudd Hall and Pocket Park into immersive experiences that perfectly capture the city’s charm and whimsy. Students are encouraged not to miss out on a chance to take their own photos.

Throughout these first two weeks of classes, there will be a parade of opportunities for students to continue to build community with their classmates and reconnect with campus resources.

Learn more about these recurring programs and signature events on the First-Year Experience website and have a happy Hullabaloo Hello!