Students socialized and seized the opportunity for a midday sugar fix from local business Winegar’s ice cream hosted by President A. James Wolpart. Wellington Wildcat greeted students as they waited in line and a DJ provided by 88.1 the ‘Burg provided tunes.  

The event on May 19 was sponsored by Campus Activities, the Office of the President and Public Affairs. The social was held as a way for students to meet President Wohlpart before his installation ceremony.  

One student, senior accounting major Jason Chang, said meeting Wohlpart allowed him to understand the role of the president at the university better.

“[It was] very nice to talk to him, a little intimidating as he is the university president,” Chang said. 

Delores “Kandee” Cleary, the vice president of Inclusivity and Diversity, said her favorite part of the event was definitely the ice cream, yet highlighted that building community between the president and the students is really important.  

“It’s a great place for students to meet the president if they haven’t done it before,” Cleary said. “It’s great for him because he gets noticed and he loves that.”  

Wohlpart said his favorite part was getting the opportunity to talk to students. He said he was able to pick up from conversations he had previously with some students he already met. 

The event also allowed him to meet new students and hear about their journeys, according to Wohlpart. He wanted to hear how spring quarter is going for students, especially with the quarter winding down and summer just around the corner. 

“Our students are special,” Wohlpart said. “What all of my work, and all of the faculty and staff, care about deeply is the journey that students are on, and how they are figuring out who they want to be in the world, what kind of work they want to do.” 

Wohlpart said community is really important, especially within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and students returning to campus. Wohlpart said the event allowed students to build connections.

“Today really is a celebration of the transition for a new president,” Wohlpart said. “For me, the focus is always on students. This is a really neat way to get the students out, [to] interact with one another.”