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Welcome to SUUSI 2023, Turn Our World Around. It still feels too good to be true that we are able to be together in person again. What a gift it is to see all of your smiling faces! We are so very grateful for this time we get to spend together.
Last year we lifted up the importance of shifting our culture to be the best possible guests to our host campus, and each and every one of you showed up! Our ability to be together at WCU this year is a direct result of the intentionality we all put into caring for ourselves and each other last year, and that work is just as important this year. We need your help to continue to Turn Our World Around!
Thank you for your commitment to making SUUSI as magical for WCU as it is for our SUUSI participants. Your efforts last year were so appreciated, so let’s carry that spirit forward and make this SUUSI better than ever!
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Here are a few suggestions to make the most of this precious time we have together. If problems arise, help is a text or phone call away: 66-ASK-SUUSI (662-757-8874).
- Keep an eye out for the chance to offer a helping hand to someone who needs it: Newcomers, older folks, parents with young children, people with disabilities, and anyone who has their hands full!
- Remember that we’re guests on this campus. Be pleasant and courteous to WCU staff and students. Respect their home. Do not complain, criticize, or make suggestions. Instead, text or call 66-ASK-SUUSI (662-757-8874) to bring your issues to SUUSI Staff.
- When SUUSI is at its most stressful for you (Check-in? Crowded dining hall? Canceled event?), take a moment to pause and reflect on your goals for living in community. Breathe. Assume that everyone around you is coming from a place of good will. Take another deep breath, and then look for a loving way forward.
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SUNDAY SCHEDULE HIGHLIGHTS | |
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10 am - 5 pm: Check-in, Bardo Arts Center
10 am - 5 pm: SUUSI Store, Blue Ridge Conference Room A & B
Noon - all night: Common Ground Cafe, Balsam 102 Commons
3 - 5 pm: Pair-a-Dice Game Drop-Off, Balsam 330
4 - 6 pm: Workshop Leader Welcome, Blue Ridge 102
4 - 8 pm: First SUUSI Meal, Courtyard Dining Hall
5 - 6 pm: Middler Parent Welcome, Forsyth 305
5:30 - 7 pm: OASUUS Mixer, Blue Ridge 202
5:30 - 7 pm: Young Adult Pizza Party, Water Rock 4000
6:30 - 7 pm: Banner and Drum Parade, Central Plaza
7 - 8 pm: Ingathering: Let's Turn Our World Around, Bardo
8 - 8:30 pm: Teen Parent / Guardian Meeting, Bardo
9 - 9:30 pm: Childcare Co-op Meeting, Blue Ridge 302
9 - 10 pm: Teen Ingathering, Balsam-Blue Ridge Crossover Lounge
9 - 10 pm: Young Adult Town Hall, Water Rock 4000
10 - 11 pm: Medians Town Hall, Water Rock 2108 Lounge
10:30 pm - 1 am: Serendipity (21+ dance), Hillside Grind
11 pm - 1 am: CACHE (14+ dance), Balsam-Blue Ridge Crossover Lounge
11 pm - 3 am: Late Night Song Circle, Water Rock 2108 Lounge
1 - 3:30 am: BBQuusi, Hillside Grind
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Banner Parade and Ingathering
At 6:30 pm, we’ll gather in the Central Plaza in front of the dining hall for our opening Banner Parade. Drummers will start to congregate at 6:15 pm to practice and to begin gathering the crowd. We’ll parade across campus to Bardo Arts Center, the same place we checked in.
Not up for a long walk? Hop a Star Car and meet us in Bardo at 7 pm! To arrange a Star Car, call 66-ASK-SUUSI, then press 3. Everyone should plan to be at Ingathering, our fun, high-energy welcome to SUUSI. You can also join Ingathering on Zoom. Log into your SOLIS account for the Zoom link.
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Key and Card Reminders
• Please keep your key and swipe card safe! If lost or damaged, there will be a $50/key and $35/card fee.
• Don’t punch a hole in your swipe card or write on it with marker. Use removable tape to label it. You can also take a photo of the card back so you’ll know your card number if someone turns it in.
• Leave the plastic tag on your metal room key.
• Parents might want to hold on to younger kids’ swipe cards.
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Where's Your Car?
Once you’ve dropped your stuff at a Move-In point, it’s time to take your car to long-term parking in lot 12. You’ll need a staff permit or a state-issued handicapped parking permit to park at the dorms. Don’t risk a ticket!
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Rules for Hanging Flyers, Posters, and Signs
Please note that we are not allowed to post signs around campus except on glass surfaces or your dorm room door, and then only using blue painters tape. Please do not post anything on walls, doors or in elevators, etc., but you could post a sign on a window next to a door, for instance. Also, please be sure any signs you post are removed by the end of the week.
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Dining Hall Information
The cafeteria will be open daily from 7 am - 8 pm, and you may eat your meals at any time during those hours. However, dinner on Sunday is the first meal for SUUSI. If you swipe your card for a meal before Sunday dinner, you’ll run out of meals before the end of SUUSI! Make sure you pay cash for Sunday’s lunch or eat off-campus. If you want to dine outside the cafeteria or in your room, just bring $5 (cash or card) to put down as a deposit for the Green To Go boxes. Each meal, bring back the dirty box and take a new clean box. At your last meal, bring the receipt (you did save the receipt, right?) and the final box back and get your deposit back.
Food allergies, sensitivities, or other dining hall concerns? Come to a Dining Accessibility Meetup to discuss or discover your options! Choose either Sunday at 3 pm or Monday at 9:30 am to meet and take a brief tour of the dining hall. Meet upstairs in the dining hall past the elevator by the cash register. For more information email access@suusi.org.
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SUUSI Store Open for Business!
Yes, the SUUSI Store IS open Sunday, 10 am - 5 pm, in the Blue Ridge Conference Center. Once you've registered and moved in to your room, come check out all our great books, logo items, music, and fun things like temporary hair color and sports equipment!
SPECIAL NOTE: This year's SUUSI t-shirts are available to purchase today at check-in, so make sure you get yours there for the best selection of sizes and colors. Any remaining shirts will be available in the SUUSI Store on Monday.
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Transition Worship Services
Tuesday evening, we will mark the cycles of our lives and remember those we have lost. If you would like us to remember someone from our community who has died in the last year, please email nurture@suusi.org no later than noon Tuesday.
Thursday evening, we will mark various life transitions within our community. This includes child dedications, teen bridging, and other important transitions. This year, this celebration will include those who wish to have their new names, pronouns, and/or gender identities recognized and celebrated by the SUUSI community. If you would like to be part of this celebration, or if you have a child to be dedicated, please email nurture@suusi.org no later than NOON Thursday. (Please note that teens who are bridging will be coordinated by the Teen Director, teens@suusi.org.)
Support Spaces
This week, the Nurture staff will be holding three spaces where members of the SUUSI community may seek peace, support, and connection. All will be open 24/7 Monday-Friday, with gatherings planned at specific times.
Meditation Room: Blue Ridge 203
The Meditation Room is a peaceful space for quiet contemplation and rest. Free group meditations will be led by Rev. Kimi Riegel on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 8 - 8:30 am and on Wednesday and Friday from 5:15 - 5:45 pm.
OASUUS Lounge for BIPOC: Blue Ridge 202
In the OASUUS Lounge, we offer safe space for SUUSI BIPOC (Black, indigenous, and people of color) to gather, talk, reflect, meditate, and replenish in body or spirit. This space is family friendly and all ages are welcome. Free OASUUS Get-to-know you mixer for Black, Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) today (Sunday) from 5:30 - 7 pm.
Addiction and Recovery Space: Blue Ridge 230
There will be a free hosted Recovery Support Meeting on Monday from 5:30 - 6:30 pm and a free hosted Twelve-Step Support Meeting on Tuesday from 10 - 11 am. At these initial meetings, we will plan out a schedule of meetings for the rest of the week.
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One Number to Reach Them All!
SUUSI Helpline, Pastoral Care/Covenant Accountability Team, Star Car – it's all one number, and it's easy to remember: 66-ASK-SUUSI (662-757-8874).
Press 1 for SUUSI Helpline: We are at your service from 6am to 10pm to answer your questions. After hours, leave a message and we will get back to you the next day. For emergencies, please call 911. If you would rather email, send to help@suusi.org. If you would like to talk in person, come to the SUUSI Office. We are open from 8:30 am - 2 pm in Balsam 230.
Press 2 for Pastoral Care and Covenant Accountability Team (CAT): When any need for pastoral care or conflict resolution arises, our nurture staff ministers and covenant accountability team are here to help 24/7.
Press 3 for Star Car: Need a ride? Star Car golf carts are available from ??am to 1am. Advance reservations strongly encouraged. Questions: email accessibility@suusi.org.
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Updated COVID-19 Procedures
In light of the continued decrease in recent transmission and hospital admittance rates in the Southeast Region, we are pleased to report we’ve been able to lift some of the mask-wearing requirements at SUUSI. The updated procedures can be found here. Please review updated language on masks on nature vans and the SUUSI store. If you have any questions about the changes, feel free to reach out to vaccination@suusi.org, and assistance will be available during registration.
Specifically with regard to Nature trips and wearing masks in a SUUSI-sponsored vehicle, you can reach out to nature@suusi.org with any concerns. During SUUSI, you can also come to the Nature table during registration or stop by the Nature Tent/Lounge in Blue Ridge 102 during the week. As always, we will continue to do everything we can to accommodate individual needs and the safety of everyone. Masks will be available in the nature office.
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Showcase of Stars
If Cabaret is too late for you or if you can't get enough music at night, join us each afternoon from 2 - 4 pm in Coulter 357 for music in the round. If you haven't registered for this workshop yet, it's only $4 per day. Or sign up for Workshop #290 for the full week ($15). You can sign up at Registration. Any questions: Call Robby Greenberg, Showcase of Stars Coordinator, at 954.240.6313.
Monday (workshop #291): Open Mic (up to nine performers @ two songs each)
Tuesday (workshop #292): Friction Farm, Gary Gonzales, special guest
Wednesday (workshop #293): Greg Greenway, Crys Matthews, Jesse Paladofsky
Thursday (workshop #294): Joe Jencks, Eric Bannan
Friday (workshop #295): Pat Wictor, Carla Ulbrich, Jane Upton
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Late Night Music
Cabaret is SUUSI’s nightly live music venue, and Sunday night is Open Mic night! Sign up to perform at the Nightlife table at Check-in, or just come and appreciate the great performances in the Bardo Main Theater (same building as Check-in and Ingathering!) from 9 - 11:30 pm. Then keep the music going with Late Night Song Circle from 11 pm - 3am in Water Rock 3108.
Ready to Dance?
Come on, you’re not really tired from the trip, are you? Both Serendipity (21+) and CACHE (14+) will be open for dancing tonight, and everyone will be waiting for you! Serendipity is located at Hillside Grind and will be open from 10:30 pm - 1 am with the theme, Black & White. The bartenders at Serendipity are trying to reduce waste so if you have your own cup, please bring it to use. CACHE--Clean Air Clear Heads Everyone--is located in the Blue Ridge Crossover Lounge and will be open from 11 pm - 1 am.
And Eat?
Close out your late night festivities at BBQUUSI, 1 - 3:30 am, at Hillside Grind. BBQUUSI Staff love to cook! They've been making late night food happen at SUUSI for years now and are looking forward to grilling for you all again! Also, new this year is KARAOKUUSI! During BBQuusi we will have an informal karaoke party at Hillside Grind. The bar will be closed, but the fun will keep on going!
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Nature Travel
Nature will continue with a hybrid transportation system for trips again this year. We will have some passenger vans and some mini-vans, and we also will rely heavily on the use of personal vehicles. Drivers will need to provide their driver's license information as we did last year. The Driver Info and Waiver Form and the Insurance Driver Guidelines can be found on this Transportation FAQs page along with information on parking.
We would love your help sorting which trips will be best suited to assign van transportation. If you are willing, able, or even prefer to drive on a Nature trip, would you let us know? You can send a message to nature@suusi.org, drop by the Nature Table during registration, or come into the Nature Office in Blue Ridge 102 at any time during the week. Also, if you have any concerns, please reach out. We will continue to do everything we can to accommodate individual needs and the safety of all. The more we know ahead of time, the less on-the-fly rearranging we will need to do!
Run for the SUUSI Board
Want to help make SUUSI the best it can be? Serving on the Board is a great way to contribute to this gathering we love so much. On Thursday, we'll elect one Adult Trustee for a three-year term and one Youth Trustee for a two-year term. Want to run? Contact the elections coordinator at elections@suusi.org. Nominations must be submitted to elections@suusi.org by noon on Tuesday, July 18. Nominees must also submit a candidate introduction to the SUUSI NUUS (nuus@suusi.org) by 1 pm the same day.
Not sure who to vote for in the Board election? Come to an Adult Board Candidate Forum in the Coulter Recital Hall on Wednesday from 5 - 6 pm. Candidate bios will be printed in the NUUS on Wednesday morning, so you’ll have the opportunity to follow up with questions Wednesday evening. This is also your opportunity to ask current Board of Trustee members anything about SUUSI. Come and be an informed participant and voter!
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Youth (ages 0-10) and Youth Parents
Please make sure you fill out a Participant Locator Form and hang it on your door. Cell phone coverage can be spotty at WCU, so we need a backup way to find you if your child needs you.
Staying in the Co-op Dorm this year? There will be a brief, mandatory Co-op informational meeting and Co-op Meet and Greet tonight from 9 - 9:30 pm, at Blue Ridge 302 Commons. Check the Co-op table at registration for more information. Please have at least one adult from each family. Children are welcome to attend but not required.
Tomorrow morning from 9 - 9:30 am, there is a mandatory meeting for youth parents in Killian Building, next to University Center. If you have youth, make sure one parent or guardian attends!
Middlers (ages 11-13) and Middler Parents
Welcome to SUUSI, Middlers and parents! Please remember that there is a mandatory meeting for parents and 13 year olds today (Sunday) at 5pm in Forsyth 305. We’re looking forward to it!
Teens (ages 14-17) and Teen Parents
We are excited to see all our Teens at SUUSI! Stop by the Teens table at registration to see the opportunities for the week. Tonight, stay at Bardo after the end of Ingathering for a mandatory parent and guardian of teens meeting from 8 - 8:30 pm. Then the teens themselves will have a Teen Touch Group meeting from 8:30 - 9 pm at Bardo, followed by a Teen Ingathering from 9 - 10 pm in the Balsam/Blue Ridge Crossover Lounge.
Young Adults (YAs, ages 18-25)
Lots of Sunday events for YAs! Start with the YA Pizza Party from 5:30 - 7 pm. Then after ingathering, come to the YA Town Hall from 9 - 10 pm and stay for Spa Night from 10 - 11 pm. All Sunday YA events are taking place in Water Rock 4000.
Medians (ages 21+)
The Median program is an age-inclusive extension of the Young Adult program. It is a space for people ages 21 and up who root their SUUSI experience in fellowship and shared experiences. It provides more extensive programming for adults and a sub-community where deeper relationships can be formed. To participate in the Median program, plan to attend tonight's mandatory Town Hall meeting from 10 - 11 pm in Water Rock 2108. We'll discuss what the Median program will look like this year, work on the community schedule together, and agree on a covenant towards intentional community for the week.
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