Mr. Belding will leave Bayside High for the night to say “howdy” to TCU students as part of this year’s Howdy Week festivities.Dennis Haskins, who played Principal Belding on the television show “Saved by the Bell” will perform a comedy show at 6 p.m. in the Student Center Ballroom.

Haskins based the performance on his role as Mr. Belding as well as experiences from his own college days, said Kristen Chapman, Programming Council’s special events director.

“Programming Council wants to provide events that students will enjoy,” said Chapman, a sophomore fashion merchandising and business marketing major. “It’s their money paying for it.”

Howdy Week has provided incoming and returning TCU students opportunities to meet and reunite with fellow Horned Frogs every day since last Monday, Chapman said.

New students had their chance to play the slots at Saturday’s casino night, where they gambled, ate free food, and won prizes such as iPods and DVD players, said Travis Brown, a freshman news-editorial journalism major.

Traditionally, the pep rally, concert, and fireworks show take place in front of the Student Center with Frog Fountain as the centerpiece, but due to construction, another location had to be found.

“It took a lot of time to find venues for the outdoor events,” said Jennifer Pippin, director of Howdy Week.

The stages were relocated to the lawn behind the Dee J. Kelly Alumni Center. Texas country singer Charlie Robison performed for a crowd of about 50 students Sunday night.

Robison was chosen because his style of music is popular among TCU students and it fit in well with the wild west theme of Howdy Week, said Pippin, a junior international communications major.

“I’ve never heard of him, but now that I’m in Texas, I guess I should start listening to Texas country,” said Allison McNaughton, a freshman premajor from Arizona.

Free food, live music, and worship opportunities will continue throughout the week, Pippin said.

There will also be a showing of “V for Vendetta” Friday at 9 p.m. on the lawn between Waits and Foster residence halls. The movie will be shown on an inflatable movie screen, Pippin said.

“It’s just good to be back,” said Armando Rodriguez, a sophomore engineering major. “Howdy Week is a good way to start off the year.