The Gaels Activities Board hosted Winter Weeks of Welcome to start off the spring semester.

Lily Tucci, the president of GAB, said the events were organized to get students excited for the new semester.

“GAB’s Weeks of Welcome programming is a way to get students involved and motivated for the second semester of the year,” she said in an email interview. “This week’s theme was ‘Sailing into 2019’ and all of our events have to do with a cruise.”

The two-week event started off on Jan. 15 with a Casino Night at Burke Lounge where students played casino-themed games to earn chips to trade in for raffle tickets and win various prizes. A pajama party was held on Jan. 16, followed by a DIY sugar scrub at the EndZone in LaPenta on Jan. 17.

Iona students participated in an Escape the Room on Jan. 18, where they needed to solve challenges with friends. On Jan. 19, students could attend a Stuff-a-Bear event, but instead of stuffing teddy bears, penguins and huskies were stuffed as a nod to the winter season.

To conclude the first week of Winter Weeks of Welcome, Regal Cinemas movie tickets were sold at the Office of Student Development.

The second week of Winter Weeks of Welcome began with a DIY Aquarium event where students were able to get a live goldfish and decorate its fishbowl.

“For this particular event we placed orders for mini fish tanks, pebbles, decorative plants, fish food and of course, live fish, purchasing them the day of the event so as to keep them alive as long as possible,” Tucci said.

Sophomore Chariesse Chambers said she was surprised she was able to take the fish home with her.

“I really loved the DIY fish tank event,” she said. “I didn’t really expect to get a live fish, so I was really pleasantly surprised.”

The week continued with a video game tournament on Jan. 23 where students competed for prizes, such as gift cards. The next day, GAB hosted Bingo Night in the EndZone, where students played bingo to win prizes, like an Amazon Fire TV Stick, a Google Home and a television.

Once a student was determined to have bingo, they chose from a table of brown paper bags to receive their prize.

“It’s a ‘surprise’ which the host will announce to the winner,” Tucci said. “Prizes include a group hug, a slow clap or the purchased prizes. Participants are on the edge of their seat because they do not know exactly which prize they will receive.”

Students could also attend “Gael” Gate, which was held directly before the Gold Rush men’s basketball game on Jan. 25.

A smoothie bar was arranged in the lobby at LaPenta on Jan. 28, followed by entertainment from comedian Justin Rupple that night.

Finally, Winter Weeks of Welcome closed with mentalist Mat LaVore’s appearance at Romita Auditorium on Jan. 29.

GAB is planning more events for the rest of the semester as well. According to Tucci, there are events still in the developing stages and others that are already planned, such as a performance by FreeQuency, a poet, activist and teaching artist, and the school’s annual Spring Weekend, which will be held from April 25 to 28.