Many Notre Dame students will arrive on campus this weekend and spend their time catching up with friends, organizing rooms and preparing for another semester of college. But for the incoming freshman Class of 2014, the weekend will be a long process of moving into an unfamiliar dorm, meeting new classmates and beginning to participate in the exciting, and somewhat awkward, experience that is Freshman Orientation, or Frosh-O.With many of the incoming freshmen forming their impressions of their new dorm and the University itself, members of the Frosh-O staffs say they are making every effort to personalize the move-in experience and make the transition as easy as possible for new residents.“We want to make sure that we welcome every single individual guy and make him feel at home,” junior Mitch Speer, Frosh-O commissioner for Carroll Hall, said. “Since we’re a small dorm, one individual student is 1 percent of my hall so we try and create a community atmosphere.”Other dorms see the move-in process as the ideal time to begin fostering relationships between the freshmen and their new home.“Throughout the move-in process, we want them to feel as comfortable as possible,” sophomore Mairin Talerico, Lewis Hall Frosh-O staff member, said. “We want to help them break out of their shells and become a part of this new family.”Several Frosh-O staff members said they understand that their efforts during the first weekend can potentially influence the freshmen’s attitudes about their next four years at Notre Dame. “We want to give the best impression of Notre Dame so that they start their first days of college with a positive attitude,” junior Kathleen McKiernan, Howard Hall Frosh-O commissioner, said. “It’s important that we give them a feeling of a place they want to be — their ‘home away from home.’”New Howard Duck Lily Rodgers said when she walked up to register at her new hall that “everyone knew my name and who I was, which was really cool.”Throughout the weekend, many of Notre Dame’s newest students have similarly felt welcomed to campus despite the chaos that surrounds the initial move to college.“So far everyone’s been really helpful and welcoming,” Morrissey Manor freshman Matt Hickey said. “The hall staff’s been outgoing and introducing themselves, but it’s still been pretty crazy trying to move everything in.”Freshman Andrea Rosado, a new resident of Pangborn Hall, said she “definitely” sees herself at home in Pangborn Hall and said her Frosh-O staff was very friendly. “The transition has been really easy,” she said. “I’m not nervous at all.”Easing the transition to Notre Dame requires a lot of time and effort on behalf of the Frosh-O staffs on campus, but most coordinators agree that the easiest way to make the new students welcome is to reach out and be a friend to the new freshmen.“We just try and be ourselves,” Speer said. “Our staff was picked for a reason. We put on a happy face and get these guys in the dorm and just make sure they enjoy themselves.”
Here’s a quick roundup of stories you may have missed today.Anne Hathaway-Led Grounded Reschedules OpeningGeorge Brant’s Grounded, starring Anne Hathaway, has pushed back its official off-Broadway opening night to April 26; the date had previously been set for April 23. Directed by Julie Taymor, the one-woman show exploring the consequences of war and the struggle to find a balance with home life, will still begin previews on April 7 at the Public’s Anspacher Theater. We can’t wait for the Les Miz Oscar winner’s return to the New York stage!Cats’ Nicole Scherzinger & More Tapped for the OliviersThe Olivier nominated (and hopefully Broadway-bound) Nicole Scherzinger will sing “Memory” from Cats at London’s Olivier Awards ceremony on April 12. Olivier nominees Katie Brayben (Beautiful) and Beverley Knight (Memphis) are also set to take the stage to perform numbers from their respective shows. Other big names to join the event’s lineup at the Royal Opera House include Tony winners Angela Lansbury and Judi Dench, Broadway alums Emilia Fox and Michael Urie, along with Olivier winner Chiwetel Ejiofor. Can’t wait? Listen to Scherzinger’s rendition of the famous feline 11 o’clock number here.Netflix Orders Second Season of Bloodline Netflix has renewed Bloodline, starring Broadway faves Norbert Leo Butz, Kyle Chandler, Ben Mendelsohn, Linda Cardellini and Sissy Spacek, for a second season. According to Deadline, the family thriller will return to production later this year and be released in 2016. Not started binge-watching yet? Maybe Tony winner Butz will talk you into it! Related Shows Grounded Show Closed This production ended its run on May 24, 2015 View Comments
NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (May 4) – Jason Martin made his trip to Lincoln County Raceway a profitable one Saturday night. Blurton made several attempts to take the lead but couldn’t execute the pass. Brian Herbert passed Berry for third on lap four while the two frontrunners battled for the lead. A couple caution flags dotted the feature, yet Martin kept his sprinter out front and hold off remaining challenges from Blurton to take home the $1,500 victory with a $100 bonus for leading all 25 laps courtesy of RS Customs. By David Smith Jr., OKTidbits Martin held off persistent challenges by defending tour champion Zach Blurton to claim the fourth annual Ron Williams/Dick Snoose Myers Memorial as the Lucas Oil POWRi United Rebel Sprint Series presented by Mel Hambelton Ford Racing made its only appearance of the season at North Platte. Blurton settled for second while Herbert got the best of a race-long battle for third over Shon Pointer while Berry settled for fifth. Shane Sundquist picked up the Keizer Wheels hard charger award as he came from his 15th starting position to come home sixth. 
Martin and Darren Berry started on the front row for the 25-lap feature finale with Martin taking the lead as the green flag fell. Jason Martin led every lap of the United Rebel Sprint Series main event at Lincoln County Raceway. (Photo by Steve Towery) Next up for the United Rebel Sprint Series will on Saturday, May 18, and their second appearance of the season at Dodge City Raceway Park. Feature results – 1. Jason Martin; 2. Zach Blurton; 3. Brian Herbert; 4. Shon Pointer; 5. Darren Berry; 6. Shane Sundquist; 7. Tracey Hill; 8. Austin McLean; 9. Dalton Webb; 10. Chad Salem; 11. Aaron Ploussard; 12. Kade Hagans; 13. Todd Plemons; 14. John Webster; 15. Tom Belsky.
The University of Wisconsin men’s soccer team looks to bounce back following a disappointing performance at the Lakeside Classic in Evanston last week. In their tournament opener against Bowling Green State University, the Badgers struggled to find the back of the net, losing a tightly-contested 1–0 match. Following a regrettable opening-round loss, the Badgers defeated Lehigh University 2-1 in the second game of the Lakeside Classic. Wisconsin relied on an offensive underclassman barrage, as freshman Iñaki Irribarren and sophomore Bobby Harris both scored.This week Wisconsin faces a critical non-conference test, first traveling to Indianapolis to face the feisty Butler Bulldogs. The Bulldogs (2-1-0) look to rebound at home following a hard-fought road defeat at the hands of Marshall (2-0-1). It would be a mistake for the Badgers to overlook the Bulldogs as Butler currently rides a two-game home winning streak. A key for a Badger victory will be containing Butler’s senior sensation, Brandon Guhl. The former All-Big East First Team selection and Co-Offensive Player of the Year has been on a tear to start his senior campaign, scoring in all three games to this point.Men’s Soccer: Weekend of opportunity lies aheadThe Badgers men’s soccer team managed to capture their first win of the season this past Sunday at home against Read…After Thursday’s game, the Badgers return to Madison for a Sunday showdown against Portland. The Pilots come in red-hot, shutting out their opponents in both of their past two games and scoring a whopping nine goals overall. Luckily, the Badgers counter Portland’s offensive attack with experience. Seniors Elan Koenig and 2018 All-Big Ten second team member Robin Olofsson will play critical roles in slowing down the Pilots.Furthermore, senior goalkeeper Dean Cowdroy will add an additional security blanket on the back-end. After transferring from Lander University, Cowdroy filled in nicely last year, posting a 10-6-2 record in 18 matches.Men’s soccer: Wisconsin takes on Creighton this weekend in penultimate spring gameThe University of Wisconsin men’s soccer team will take on the Creighton University Bluejays Saturday night in Omaha, Nebraska. The Read…On the offensive end, senior midfielder Noah Leibold will be a major factor this week for the Badgers. Over the past three years, Leibold has been a staple of the Badger offensive attack, starting 63 consecutive matches dating back to his freshman season. Leibold is already off to a hot start in 2019, leading the team with four shots. A sweep is critical this week for the Badgers as the following week the team travels to Bloomington to face defending Big Ten champion, Indiana.