Vandal Friday gives high school students and potential Vandals a chance to experience a small segment of college life — either by attending scheduled events, where they are informed about the variety of majors and education opportunities, or staying overnight in a dorm, sorority or fraternity.
Dan Davenport, Director of Student Financial Aid for the University of Idaho, informs transfer students and parents about student loans, grants and scholarships Friday in the Crest Room of the Commons Building.
The first Vandal Friday was March 21-23, with the second Vandal Friday April 4-6. Combined, the Vandal Fridays brought in a total of 1,471 admitted students, said Karen Hunt, University of Idaho’s media relations assistant.
“Those numbers also translate to about a five percent increase from last year,” Hunt said.
Both Greek houses and Resident Housing had overnight visitors. Anne Siron, Panhellenic vice president of membership recruitment, said they had a good turnout for both Vandal Friday weekends.
During the Vandal Friday weekends, UI’s Greek Week was also taking place. Those who hosted Vandal Friday visitors in Greek houses, as well as those in the dorms, were able to take the visiting high school students to various events, such as the annual Greek Week skits and Red Bull chariot races.
“In Greek houses, both Vandal Fridays were very successful. The first one had more students than the second, mainly because that was spring break for Boise high schools. However, the second Vandal Friday we got more out- of-state students or ones who live closer to Moscow,” Siron said. “Vandal Friday is all about getting potential Vandals interested in coming here and future Vandals excited to come here, along with exposing them to what were all about, and I think we did that.”
Siron said Thursday, April 4 and Friday, April 5 a total of 240 women stayed in Greek houses overnight.
Like the sororities, both Vandal Fridays’ were successful for the fraternities. Justin Glenn Novacek, the recruitment chairman for UI’s Inter- fraternity Council said the fraternity numbers were up from last year. The first Vandal Friday he said roughly 115 men stayed overnight Thursday and Friday and the second Vandal Friday around 80 men stayed overnight Thursday and Friday.
“Everything went smoothly — a lot smoother than previous years and we had increased numbers which will help us in recruitment this coming fall,” Novacek said.
Michelle Gregg can be reached [email protected]