As summer comes to a close, students are flooding into Moscow and the next stage of their lives.
New Student Orientation and the Week of Welcome offers a time for some of those new faces, namely first-year and transfer students, to adjust to their new campus and community over a four-day span of events.
It began Thursday with convocation, where President Chuck Staben gave an official welcome to the university. Later that evening, students participated in New Vandal Mashup, a series of games and activities that introduce students to one another.
“During part of New Vandal Mashup, the students find high-five partners,” said Madison Bergeman, a fourth-year student leading orientation for her third time. “Then months down the road they’ll run into them and be like, ‘Hey, that’s my high five partner.’ So, it’s cool that the freshmen get to make friends like that.”
On Friday, students will sort by the college they’re enrolled in before exploring a variety of workshops intended to prepare them for day-to-day life on campus.
Next, on Saturday, students will partner with local businesses and organizations in the Serving Your New Community (SYNC) program. They will ride buses to several locations on the Palouse to restore buildings, clean up trails and paint houses, among other things.
“In the past, I’ve pulled weeds from the Moscow Community Garden and cleaned the Palouse bike trail,” Bergeman said. “So, it’s fun little things around the community.”
The fun little activities add up. Last year, students provided more than 1,800 hours of service at over 40 sites in the area, according to the Department of Student Involvement.
Later that day, students will have the chance to attend the Palousafest street fair which will feature student organizations lining Sixth Street to pitch themselves to incoming students. The Department of Student Involvement expects somewhere between 3,000 and 5,000 students and community members to attend and enjoy the games, prizes, food and live music.
On Sunday, the final day of orientation, students will participate in a new event and an old tradition.
“One of the newest events we’re doing this year is a Field Day on Sunday the 19th. We’re hoping this will be an opportunity for students to be outside, play kickball, and have some fun right before school begins,” Sumner said.
After Field Day activities, students will participate in the traditional Vandal Walk from the Kibbie Dome to the Administration Building. This walk mirrors the walk students make at graduation from the Administration Building to the Kibbie Dome. The two act as a proverbial bookend for students’ time at the university.
“I think Orientation is important for all the new freshmen,” Bergemen said. “It’s a good start to their career here at U of I, and it’s a good way to build Vandal pride.”
Danny Bugingo can be reached [email protected].