Welcome to Cornell: That's the message some 3,150 freshmen, as well as about 2,000 transfer and new graduate and professional students, will receive during Orientation Week on campus.
Orientation activities, which begin Friday, Aug. 18, the same day residence halls open, are a collaboration between the student-led Orientation Steering Committee (OSC) and the Office of the Dean of Students. Once again the organizers have provided a full and exciting agenda of activities, from the intellectually stimulating to the just-plain fun, for new arrivals and their parents.
"We hope to help new students get a sense of belonging and a sense of ownership as they begin their Cornell careers," said Meg Nowak, assistant dean of students for new student programs and student support, and OSC adviser.
The majority of Orientation Week activities are being coordinated by the nine undergraduate student members of the OSC, who have been planning for the week since last October. They include co-chairs Cecilia Dobbs '02 and Heather Mayers '02, and Janine Harris '02, David Ishikawa '02, Marisa Laks '01, Lorraine Medeiros '01, Abigail Reynolds '02, Adam Rosen '01 and Lauren Schmied '02. They will be assisted by more than 400 students who have volunteered to be supervisory orientation counselors, orientation counselors and move-in day volunteers, beginning Friday.
The opening weekend of events is intended to help both students and parents become familiar with Cornell and the community. Friday activities include several programs especially for parents, and the day is highlighted by a 2 p.m. welcome reception on the Arts Quad with Cornell President Hunter Rawlings.
On Saturday, Rawlings officially will welcome new Cornellians and their families at the President's Convocation at 9 a.m. in Barton Hall. Later, each of the colleges will have dean's receptions as well as other orientation programming.
Two events that traditionally have the highest incoming-student attendance during Orientation Week are Friday's First Night Festival in the Noyes and Robert Purcell community centers at 10 p.m., with music, dancing, movies, free food and games; and Cornell Night at Bailey Hall Wednesday, Aug. 23, featuring music and comedy acts by some of the brightest stars on campus.
A complete list of Orientation Week events is available online at www.sao.cornell.edu/orientation/.
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