Jacob Scheiwe just moved into Carman Hall on Thursday from Glen Ellyn. By Saturday night he already made friends on his floor, started a volleyball pickup game at the Student Recreation Center, and signed a “death waiver” to fly down the “fun slide” at Saturday night’s Cosmic Carnival: Quakin’ in the Quad.

The freshman hospitality major has heard of the “One-in-Five” statistic: One in five incoming freshman won’t graduate.

Scheiwe said he simply has to get his degree.

“My parents would kick my ass,” he said, if he became that statistic.

One in five students who started their fall semester at Eastern in 2004 didn’t return in fall 2005. Only 80 percent of students returned. These statistics, provided by U.S. News and World Report and Eastern’s planning and institutional studies are partially responsible for the creation of Prowl, a six-week program geared toward freshmen.

Approximately 50 Prowl leaders, who are Eastern student workers, helped people move in, along with the Panther Pals, who have traditionally helped students on move-in day.

Chelsea Crill, a sophomore elementary education major, is a prowl leader and was guiding students and answering questions at the union Friday night in her powder blue Prowl Leader T-Shirt.

“You’re more likely to graduate if you don’t just spend time by yourself,” she said.

The purpose of these events is for students from the same classes to meet each other. Students who stay with people in their own class are more likely to graduate with their class, Crill said.

That tactic seemed to work for at least a few freshmen Thursday night.

A mixer for new students was held in the south quad and was scheduled from 8 p.m. to midnight for the students’ first night.

Eight freshmen stood in a cluster just after 11:30 p.m., the last ones standing at the event.

Lindsay Woods, from Rockford, arrived on campus at noon Thursday. She came to the mixer with women from her floor in Andrews Hall and had met the rest of the group that night at the mixer.

Woods said the statistic isn’t surprising, but admitted that it’s kind of scary to think about while standing in a group of five freshmen.

“Some people aren’t made for college,” said Greg Poznic, a freshman marketing major from Villa Grove.

Others in the group agreed.

“It’s about learning; you have to be committed,” said Ryan Anderson, freshman education major.

The group of students, and new friends, had already planned a Wal-mart trip for Friday.

The most important time for new students is the first few weeks of school, said Megan Stepp, an orientation coordinator.

Numerous university offices sponsor the programs across campus.

“We want to show them we’re here to keep them here,” Stepp said.

A taskforce was formed in January 2006 as an attempt to improve students’ first six weeks of school.

The name “Prowl” was chosen to coincide with Eastern’s mascot, a panther, Stepp said. And students tend to prowl the campus, in a sense, to see what’s out there for them, she said.

The goal is to get new students out to meet each other, said Lori Morrissette, Student Life Office graduate assistant.

“Returning students already have a basis and friends,” she said.

The activities during the first week students were on campus are intense as far as Prowl is concerned. The following weeks focus on civics and citizenship, academics, personal wellness, social connections and EIU traditions and cultures.

Tradition and culture is the most important to Stepp, an Eastern alumna. She’s currently doing her graduate work and stressed the idea that people should be proud of where they go to school.

“I want people to say, ‘I went to EIU, and I had the time of my life,'” she said.