Thousands of freshmen filed into the RBC Center Monday for the annual Convocation meant to make them feel more welcome.

University administrators, faculty and athletics coaches represented the University as freshmen participated in team-building events. Keynote speaker and author Rebecca Skloot rounded off the evening with an inspirational talk – one that was nearly canceled for security reasons.

Skloot wrote “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks,” which incoming freshmen were required to read over the summer.

Skloot said at the beginning of her speech she almost had to cancel, and that it was previously canceled for several hours. A student at a school she spoke at earlier in the day posted on Twitter he wanted to assassinate her by a gunshot to the head.

“He had to wake up at 7 a.m. to come see me speak,” Skloot said of the student.

12 buses made at least two trips each as they were packed with 75 students every go-round, according to Justine Hollingshead, transportation coordinator. It took one-and-a-half hours to transport all students from campus, Director of Campus Activities Deb Luckadoo said.

Blaring music filled hallways leading into the stadium. Freshmen were clueless of the night’s itinerary as they entered the building – although they could hear the music, they could not see what was happening inside the arena.

“I’m here with my friends having a good time. I just want to meet people,” freshman in biomedical engineering David Majeski said in the hallway leading inside.

A gauntlet – the human tunnel commonly seen on a football field – greeted freshmen as they entered the arena. Students walked down the steps and into the tunnel formed by student volunteers.

Freshman Austin Bath, while standing at the end of the gauntlet, said the organizers’ goal of making him feel more welcome had been accomplished. He will begin his first semester in human biology Wednesday in hopes of becoming a doctor.

“I’m not quite sure what’s going on, but [the rest of convocation] looks like it will be fun. I’m excited,” Bath said.

Once all students were seated, the marching band, at 320 members strong, played the alma mater as students looked up at the JumboTron to sing along.

Grad student in aerospace engineering Chris Hathcock, dressed in red and white overalls, was the “microphone man” this year and last. Standing at the podium in the center of the arena, he guided students through lyrics before the band played the song.

“I always feel like one of the key things is that people know the lyrics to all of their school songs. Hopefully freshmen will learn the whole song this time,” Hathcock said.

As the band played, cheerleaders, the color guard and majorettes danced with the beat. Senior in sports management Dre Smith is a main base for the cheerleading squad.

“We are here to teach the freshmen a couple of band cheers, teach them the Red and White song and really just get them pumped up about coming to State,” Smith said.

Smith outlined what he felt Convocation should be about.

“It’s a great way for freshmen to first get involved with the University,” Smith said. “You get free T-shirts, you get to see the cheerleaders, hear the band and you get to see the person who wrote your summer