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Orientation helps Class of 2006 adjust to college life
By Michele Stupinsky
Contributing Reporter

South Campus awoke from its summer slumber Aug. 21 as the Class of 2006 arrived to begin a full week of orientation activities geared toward acquainting the new students with the campus and each other.

The traditional freshman orientation included such annual events as the ice cream social and the new student convocation, which featured speakers President Thomas K. Hearn, Jr.; Paul Escott, dean of the college; Paul Orser, dean of freshmen; and senior Katherine Collins, student chair of the orientation committee.

"(Orientation) gives students a chance to become acclimated … and makes sure parents are comfortable with the university," Collins said.

First-year students also attended assemblies to introduce them to the university’s honor code and to teach them about the university’s involved past. Chaplain Ed Christman presented "What’s in the Wake Forest Name?" telling the story of the campus’ history and traditions through the eyes of Samuel Wait, the founder and first president of the university.

Freshman Lauren Smulcer said that Christman’s program was perhaps the "only way (for freshmen) to find out about the past of the school."

Freshman Kathleen Culpeper agreed, saying the activity was one of the "most memorable" of orientation week.

Other freshman orientation events included sessions regarding health and safety on college campuses. During the halftime of the men’s soccer game on Aug. 24 in Spry Stadium, students were invited to learn the alma mater and the fight song, meet the coaches and the Demon Deacon Band, as well as to receive the annual orientation T-shirts.

Culpeper is glad that she had a week before classes began "to meet everyone … and know who is going to be in (your) dorm".

Junior John Cross, a resident adviser in Collins Residence Hall, said that the Spry Stadium event had a great turnout. "The stands seemed full," he said. "The freshmen even started a wave with the crowd."

Junior Britt Hamilton, another RA in Collins, said that hall meetings had a big impact on the freshmen’s introduction to college life. "It’s the first time that it’s just the freshmen and their RA with no parents," he said. "It’s a really honest experience."

Even though freshmen arrived on campus before upperclassmen, there were still many that were here before the rest. Certain student groups brought back several new students to get an early start on the year, including the Demon Deacon Marching Band, Students Promoting Action & Responsibility in the Community volunteer organization, the Howler yearbook, and many of the athletic organizations.

Junior Jennifer George, chief designer of the Howler, said that they came early to allow freshmen to "learn the ropes" of the yearbook’s operations as well as to get the entire staff acquainted with the Howler’s new publisher.

Sophomore Teri Martinko, captain of the dance line, attended the "camp" that was held to make sure that the marching band, dance line and the flag squad are prepared for the first game of the season. "We have a good group of people working together really well," Martinko said. "It’s going to be a great year!"

Also, numerous students took part in the Outward Bound outdoors teamwork program and Pre-School sponsored by religious organizations on campus.

As far as the freshmen go, both Culpeper and Smulcer vouch that now that they’ve had a chance to witness the student body in action, leaving the Class of 2006 excited about the upcoming year.