Published: Sept. 1, 2015

Hello scholars! Welcome back to you veteran buffs, and to the new freshman talent out there, welcome home. I am Sarah Ellsworth: IPHY major, Boulder native and event connoisseur, writing to you from the comfort of beautiful CU-Boulder on all of your weekly opportunities for community involvement, educational whatnot and supreme fun. Have a fabulous week everyone.

Wednesday, Sept. 2

Campus Resources Fair If you're just arriving for the first time on campus, or even if you're coming back looking to discover more resources on campus to help you do whatever it is you need to do, bring yourself down to the UMC fountain from 12 to 2 p.m. this fine hump day and peruse the tents and booths. One of the beautiful things about CU-Boulder is its ample resources aimed at supporting its students, including but not limited to department resources, clubs and organizations and specific offices. Click here for more information about the Campus Resources Fair.

Thursday, Sept. 3

Study Abroad Fair. The vast world awaits those who are willing to take the first step from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and swing by the UMC fountain for a peek at the hundreds of study abroad opportunities that CU-Boulder offers. Ever wanted to study ecology in Ecuador? You can do that, or you can choose one of 64 other countries in which to live and learn, or maybe even conduct research or volunteer after you consult with the well-traveled and experienced representatives at the Study Abroad Fair. Click here for more information about the Study Abroad Fair.

Center for Student Involvement Open House. Stop by the Center for Student Involvement (UMC room 231) between 3 and 5 p.m. to check out their new location and learn about involvement opportunities and resources here on campus. Be sure to introduce yourself to the staff and munch on some free food! Visit the Center for Student Involvement Website to learn more.

Ralphie's Cooking Basics. If you're a Buff with a kitchen, but you lack the knowhow to use it, then you need Ralphie's Cooking Basics, a free cooking class at 4:45 p.m. outside the Alfred Packer Grill (in the UMC). This week, you will learn how to cook homemade pizza (which, despite Cosmos’ deliciousness, still reigns superior). Be sure to get there early, since it’s first-come, first-served, and ask how the Alfred Packer Grill got its name. Click here for more information about Ralphie’s Cooking Basics.

Buffalo Nites: Paint it yourself pottery. What if you were told you could have a paintbrush in your left hand and a cup of hot chocolate in your right, and you might even be able to wear your sweatpants while you did it? Sometimes the first week of school demands a little me-time, so the Center for Student Involvement is providing exactly that. Get yourself to the UMC dining room from 7 to 9 p.m. to paint some pottery, sip some beverage and relax. All you need to bring is your sweats. Learn more about the Buffalo Nites program here.

Friday, Sept. 4

Fall tuition due date. This is very important, Buffaloes, and by that I mean very important! Tuition is due to the Bursar’s Office by 5 p.m. Mountain Time (if you are paying in full and paying by mail, wire transfer or in person; if you're paying online, payment is due by 11:59 p.m. Mountain Time on Saturday, Sept. 5), no exceptions, no excuses. Get it done, people. Click here for more information about the fall tuition due date.

International Coffee Hour. Meet in the UMC Grill from 4 to 5:30 p.m. this and every following Friday to engage in conversation with fellow scholars and partake in some free food and beverage. Every week a drawing will take place. This is a great chance to engage in lively conversation and make friends with some out-going coffee lovers just like you. Learn more about the International Coffee Hour here.

Black Holes: The other side of infinity. Stephen Hawking once said, "Look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see, and wonder about what makes the universe exist. Be curious." At 9 p.m., Fiske Planetarium provides an opportunity to do just that, with a presentation on black holes, great monsters of space about which we know so little. You may be surprised at the knowledge you take home. Black Holes: The Other Side of Infinity

CU Soccer vs Cincinnati. Don't miss this chance to support your athletic Buffs. Come watch the CU Women’s soccer team take on Cincinnati in what is sure to be a great game. The first 200 of you who drop by the game on Prentup field at 4:30 p.m. will even get a free slice of pizza. CU Soccer vs Cincinnati.

Saturday, Sept. 5

University of Colorado Museum of Natural History Exhibit - Steps in Stone: Walking Through Time. What is nicer on a hot Saturday afternoon than a pleasantly quiet and air-conditioned stroll through the past? The CU Museum of Natural History presents an all day interactive exhibit that features remarkable fossils and tracks of all kinds of animals, ranging to the still alive to the pre-historic. The crossroad of science and history will enlighten the mind to things previously unknown about the species that walk and have walked the Earth. Check out the University of Colorado Museum of Natural History – Exhibit~ Steps in Stone: Walking Through Time.