Hannah Golden | Freelance reporter
While some students were busy recovering from their Friday nights, a niche community of University of Oregon students gathered in good spirits Saturday morning. A large turnout of nontraditional Ducks flocked to the Spencer View Community Room for the Toy and Clothing Exchange — an event hosted by the Nontraditional Student Union and Nontraditional Student Programs, a sector of the Office of the Dean of Students.
Full-time UO student and mother of two, Samantha Williams was grateful to have had the opportunity to attend. The Nontraditional Student Week celebration began Monday of this week, offering gallery displays, hosting pizza socials, free back massages and special veterans’ recognition events.
The event was a chance for Williams and dozens of her peers to meet each other and gain reassurance that they are not alone on the UO campus.
Williams feels the most beneficial aspect of the week’s events is the way it unites this segment of students, which is comprised of veterans, those serving in the military, students with children and/or spouses and those working full-time. Not only are these individuals the minority on campus — they are on tight schedules that don’t readily allow for socializing.
Being a nontraditional student is received with different attitudes across campus. “Professors,” Williams said, “tend to be warm and understanding. I have one professor in a 125-person class who personally emails me to help me work around my kids.”
Gretchen Jewett, the director of the NSP and adviser to NSU, explained the nature of the organizations and this week in particular.
“Nontraditional Student Week is about celebrating and raising awareness about the often under-recognized population of our student body,” Jewett said.
Her third year directing the event, Jewett was more than pleased with the drive.
“I don’t think this place could have handled a larger turnout,” Jewett said.  She noted the real benefit in this event is supporting student parents on a budget as a reminder that the UO recognizes their struggles.
The NSP and NSU will host more nontraditional student events in winter and spring, which have historically been just as popular as Saturday’s drive.
“While these events are targeted to nontraditional students, the important thing is to raise awareness,” Jewett said.