The next step of your life
Coming to the University of New Brunswick in September? Great - plans are ramping up to make your first week here the best week of your life.
Life at university isn't all work - it's about discovering your future, meeting people and building friendships that will last a lifetime. The Saint John and Fredericton campuses have a slew of events prepared to make your time at UNB the best it can be.
"It's the week to open up and be who you want to be at university," says Fredericton orientation chair Stephanie Lord. "People are coming from all over the world, all over Canada. It's your chance to start new and start fresh, the time where a lot of people find the friends they'll have for the rest of their lives."
Going Greek
UNB Fredericton will turn into a modern version of a Greek Olympiad for Orientation Week, kicking off with opening ceremonies on Friday that will see all dozen residences and Townhouse - the club for students living off-campus - rally at the Aitken University Centre arena in newly-made togas to build house spirit and to get to know one another.
Orientation Week
Orientation week begins Friday, Sept. 3 on the Fredericton campus and Tuesday, Sept. 7 on the Saint John campus.
We're not kidding about the togas: the UNB Student Union has already picked up two kilometres of fabric for incoming students.
On Saturday new students will hit the streets of Fredericton for Shinerama to shine shoes, sing songs and raise money for Cystic Fibrosis research. That night the Student Union Building will host a dance run by UNB's own KARR Productions featuring three of the school's best DJs.
The week will include a movie on the main campus quad, a game show, "The Podium," where students can win $1,500 in prizes, a cornboil with neighbouring St. Thomas University, and Polaroid Pandemonium, a cross-campus photo scavenger hunt with prizes including four trips to New York City. Six other trips to the Big Apple will be won throughout the week.
All week, first year students will be have the help of the Redshirts to find their way around campus. With 105 Redshirts on the team, Lord explains it's the largest volunteer orientation force on the East Coast. They'll be easy to spot - they're the ones in red togas.
With five years of orientation weeks behind them, Lord and orientation vice-chair Ryan Brideau know what's worked and what hasn't worked in past years to make sure that Orientation 2010 is the best week of your life.
"Orientation is a massive component of your time here at UNB," says Lord. "I met five of my best friends during orientation week, and five years later I'm tighter with them than I was with my high school community.
"It's our job to provide an open and inviting casual atmosphere for you," she continues, "to make new friends, to feel welcome, and also to get educated."
The social experience
At UNB Saint John, students' council president Anthony Enman feels the same. "We want to make sure you have as much fun as possible," he says. "University is nothing like you've ever experienced before. It's not high school. It's a huge step, so we're going to give you some fun mixed in with any other emotions you might feel."
The UNB Saint John SRC has a full slate of events lined up for Orientation Week to make you feel like a true part of the university. Events are scheduled from Tuesday, Sept. 7 to Saturday, Sept. 11, and will feature something for people of all interests.
They've been paying attention to the finer details, and planning events they know will make the week amazing.
It all starts with Super Tuesday on Sept. 7, where you'll be welcomed to the school with an opening ceremony, which will be followed by an "Amazing Chase" scavenger hunt around the campus. That night, you'll get the chance to test your strength of will with hypnotist Dream with Dean, an Orientation Week classic.
Throughout the week, you'll be treated to a host of great events, including a Monte Carlo casino night and a comedy night from TRIXX, of Video on Trial fame. On Saturday, Sept. 11, UNB Saint John students will hit the streets for Shinerama.
"We're really excited this year about Shinerama," says Enman. "We're having a free concert down at the Market Square boardwalk. It's something we haven't really done before, and we're encouraging all students to come out to it. It's all local acts, and it'll help raise awareness and to integrate Shinerama back into the city."
At Orientation Week in Saint John, explains Enman, you'll learn a lot more than you would from a textbook.
"You take university and make it what you want. We want to give you the chance to get out to events, become part of our clubs and really integrate yourself into the social experience of the university. It helps you build the character, and skills you need outside of the classroom to be successful."
Contributed by Josh O'Kane. This story was made possible thanks to the financial support of the UNB Associated Alumni
