Well the most popular question of the past couple days around here has been, "when do my parents leave orientation?" I don't know if it's students who are chomping at the bit to get rid of their parents, or student petrified at the thought of taking care of themselves for the first time. Either way, I thought it was time to address the whole "parents at orientation" topic.
On Saturday, your parents will help you move in to your room and fill out paperwork for HR (if you plan on working on campus at all). If you plan to be a pre-health student, your parents are welcome to come to the pre-health meeting at 4. That night we have a parent program at the same time that you have our "Drunk Sex or Date Rape" program. The parents have the opportunity to ask questions of some of the directors on campus without you sitting next to them rolling your eyes telling them to be quiet and that you already know the answer to that question.
Sunday we have a lot of campus and local services available for you and your parents to check out, they are invited to go to the pre-professional meetings with you if you're going to one, and most parents really enjoy going to Matriculation. After Matriculation, we have a reception for the parents so they can console each other about their babies leaving the nest and at the same time rejoice that you're finally moving out while you're meeting your advisor and FS class for the first time. Right after you're done with that meeting, your parents will go to meet your FS advisor to ask any last minute questions about the scheduling process. Please assure your parents that the advisors know what they're doing and it's ok that you'll be scheduling your classes without them. This is the first step towards independence! Scheduling your first semester's classes on your own! (with the help of your advisor and 2-3 peer leaders)
The last parent program that parents are invited to attend is Catholic Mass on Sunday at 5 pm. After that, say your tearful goodbyes and get ready for a great night! We have the Spirit Dinner, Sue Plunkett's Sex Talk (an Allegheny tradition) and the Dance Party!
It's getting close! With one month to go until Orientation I know you all have to be getting excited! Are all of your forms in? Have you talked to your new roommate to figure out who's bringing the fridge? Have you told your parents for the 1,000th time that yes you understand college is difficult and yes you promise to work hard?
A lot of people really don't get what Orientation is all about. They pretty much just think it's the five days before classes start that have a lot of pointless activities. We spend months planning Orientation to make sure that all of the questions you might have are answered and all of the anxiety you might be feeling about going to college is eased a bit before classes start. You meet with your FS class and hallmates not just to begin the class registration process, but to start meeting people you have some obvious things in common with. The Spirit of Allegheny Dinner and President's Picnic are great not only for the free food and prizes, but also to start building your sense of school pride and spirit. We have speakers talk about things like drinking, sex, and social justice because those are all topics at the forefront of higher education today that you should be thinking and talking about. We book a DJ and plan the dance party because...well because it's fun.
On Wednesday night we want you to have met some good friends, have your class schedule and all of your books, and feel comfortable in your new environment. Let's be honest, you have bigger things to worry about than who's going to have lunch with you on Thursday or where you can take your girlfriend to dinner when she comes to visit the next weekend....like that first Calc class!
One of the most popular questions we start to hear around this time is, "Should my family and I stay overnight on Friday night before move-in? Where should we stay? When should we get to my residence hall in the morning?" Let me offer a few words of advice:
First of all, if you get to your residence hall at 8:45 am, you still won't be able to move in until 9. Sleep in a bit. Have a nice breakfast. Get to campus around 11 or 12. It will be a lot less stressful.
Second, If you would have to wake up earlier than 6 am to make it to campus by 3 pm (when move-in ends), you should probably think about coming up on Friday and staying in a hotel. If this is the case, make your reservations now! Most of the hotels, motels, B&Bs are booking up!
Finally, you'll be getting one more mailing from us that has more move-in tips as well as a map of the campus and different parking lots for different buildings. Go to your residence hall first! You'll get your room key, Orientation folder and schedule for the week, then a bunch of volunteers and peer leaders will help you unload your car. After that, you get your ID (as long as you've already submitted your picture!) in the Campus Center and fill out paperwork for financial aid and HR if you plan to work on campus.
Last words of wisdom: relax! Stop thinking so far ahead and enjoy your summer!
We've got our first restaurant booked for the I Heart Meadville picnic! Ricci's on S. Main St. is in! The owner, Stacey, asked me if she could bring food samples. Um.....obviously.
Alcohol! It's crazy this time of year the number of incoming first years who talk on Facebook about how they're going to "get f---ed up" their first night on campus. Old School, Van Wilder, Animal House...are movies. Real life isn't like that! I would be wasting my typing if I tried to tell you not to drink. Lots of people drink in college. Just as many choose not to. How about instead of telling you what to do I'm going to tell you this: Be responsible. Be careful. Watch out for your friends.
A while back there was a student at another liberal arts college who drank way too much, his friends completely abandoned him, and he died alone in a field. How could that have been avoided? If he knew his limits. If his friends stuck with him and called an ambulance when it got to that point. No student at Allegheny wants that. I'm proud of the way everyone takes care of each other around here.
During Orientation we have a program on Saturday called "Drunk Sex or Date Rape: Can You Tell the Difference?" Year after year this is our most talked-about and highest-rated program from Orientation. It's amazing how quickly a group of 600 people goes silent as they hear about this case of a girl and guy getting too drunk and having sex when neither could make that decision. Can a drunk guy understand "No", even if it's nonverbal (like a girl who's passed out)? Can a drunk girl consent? How can a guy's friends stop him from getting into that situation? How can a girl's friends stop her from getting into that situation? These are the kinds of questions posed throughout this session that tend to stick in the back of your brain.
As you start thinking about "getting f---ed up" during your first couple weeks of school, start thinking about that stuff. This isn't to scare you away from drinking. Going to college means being an adult and making adult decisions. Making the decision to drink comes with a whole new set of responsibilities for you. Take care of yourself and take care of each other.
With FS assignment letters going out last week, we've heard quite a few things from students who "claim to know the process" of how we assign first year students to FS classes. Most of what we hear is mostly incorrect. Here are some of the common myths and facts.
#1 - When I choose FS classes off the internet, I am ranking them in order of my interest.
MYTH! You are choosing your top 7 out of 44 choices. We place you in one of those 7. They aren't looked at as choice #1, #2, #3, etc.
#2 - I can't take an FS 101 taught by a math professor because I hate math!
MYTH! You will never be graded in FS on your knowledge of the subject. You will be graded on your writing and speaking abilities. I personally stink at math. However, I find it quite interesting. Math Professor X won't grade me on the fact that I have no clue how to do long division. Just on how well I structure and write my papers.
#3 - If I clicked the wrong class and was assigned to an FS I don't want, I can just switch classes.
MYTH! FS assignments are final. Open your mind and get ready to enjoy a new subject. It's what the liberal arts are all about!
#4 - My peer leaders and advisors will help me register for classes during Orientation.
FACT! You will meet with your advisor and peer leaders several times during Orientation before you register for your classes on Tuesday, August 26.
#5 - Besides writing and speaking, my FS will help me with my transition to college.
FACT! Many FS 101 professors bring "guest speakers" to class like the Learning Commons, ACCEL, and the Counseling Center to ease your transition to Allegheny.
#6 - The people assigning FS and rooms are trying to ruin my life.
FACT! Just kidding! We work tirelessly to give everyone what they want and make them happy. We try! I promise!