Comeback Tour: Students enjoy return to campus with prom, glowfest, more

After a challenging year of pandemic restrictions, Webster University students, faculty and staff enjoyed a variety of opportunities to come back together on campus and kick off a more "almost normal" Fall 2021 term. Safety protocols remained in place, but many traditional events returned as part of the Gorlok "Comeback Tour."

Some never experienced a traditional New Student Orientation. Others missed out on senior prom. All of them were top of mind as Webster University student affairs staff planned activities to welcome new and returning students to a more typical beginning to the academic year.

Annual events like orientation, Welcome Back barbecues, Glowfest, the Involvement Fair, and the petting zoo were all part of the schedule and back in person. But so were new events to build excitement and recognize what was lost over the past year.

'Make it the Best Prom Ever'

Among those was the first-ever “imPROMtu,” an informal prom open to all students, but driven by the fact many incoming students missed out on the high school experience because of COVID-19. Held in Grant Gym, it was a hit and drew local news coverage, too.

Student leader Megan Sander, who spent the summer setting up the event, was quoted in the St. Louis American:

“We know they missed out on the prom at their high schools due to COVID, so we really wanted to make Webster their home...and make it the best prom ever,” she said.

Above: The Gorlok at imPROMtu; petting zoo on the Quad

The Webster-Kirkwood Times captured the scene:

The dress code for imPROMtu was left up to the students. Fashion statements ranged from full-length gowns and suits to hairy vests and varied length dresses to shorts, themed purses, crowns, matching-colored masks and six-inch spike heels.

“This night was for them and we wanted them to have as much fun as they wanted with this,” said Billy Ratz, director of Parent Engagement and interim director of First Year Experience.

Comeback Tour t-shirts -- with the Gorlok rocking a guitar -- were handed out to students and employees, listing events and ways everyone could participate.

Returning, first-time and transfer students alike raved about the value of being back in-person, as this Journal story reflects:

“The Comeback Tour was such a special week because it gave everyone the opportunity to go out and experience some really cool things while actually interacting with people in real life,” said student Leah Dwyer. ... She “can’t even describe” how happy she is about having this community back, the student newspaper reported.

As Chancellor Elizabeth (Beth) J. Stroble said to employees at Fall Convocation, noting the speedy, fierce and dependable attributes of the Gorlok: "The Gorlok likes to have fun, too! To liven spirits at campus events. To bring us joy," she said. "So this year as we are able to have more events together, we’re happy to say: The Gorlok is back. This fall is the Gorlok comeback tour!"

To further rally employees to this spirit, at Fall Convocation Stroble also announced the "Come Back, Give Back" crowdfund initiative, to support Student Government Association's annual project to enhance campus life.

That effort exceeded its goal in just a few weeks. And it's just a preview of what's to come for the Webster community in 2020-2021.