Here they come, on the long weekend

From earth's wide bounds, but especially from southern Ontario, UW's new first-year students are on their way. (Based on figures from 2005, 42 per cent of first-year students come from Kitchener-Waterloo or the Greater Toronto Area, UW's office of institutional analysis and planning says.) Residence move-in is scheduled for both Sunday and Monday, and on both days, students who live "within three hours drive of Waterloo" are asked to arrive in the morning and others in the afternoon.

Certain wings and floors of residence are designated for Sunday arrival and others for Monday, to keep the traffic jams on Columbia Street and University Avenue from being even worse. "Proceed to the designated move-in parking areas," the detailed instructions to new students say. "University Police will be on hand to ease the traffic flow around campus."

Residence students (including some who will be living in a new environment, specially furnished triple rooms in Ron Eydt Village) have been told in detail what they should bring (alarm clock, health card, "pillow and teddy bear") and especially what they shouldn't bring: incense, candles, halogen lamps, pets, weapons.

Upper-year students living in residence are allowed to arrive as early as Sunday, but most are expected to trickle in next week, in anticipation of the first day of classes on Monday, September 10.

The move-in takes place, as always, on the Labour Day long weekend. Hence this obligatory note: Monday, September 3, will be Labour Day and a holiday; UW offices and most services will be closed.

Of course some key services continue as always: UW police on duty 24 hours, 519-888-4911; Student Life Centre open 24 hours, turnkey desk 519-888–4434; maintenance emergencies phone ext. 3–3793; report major computer network outages to 519-888-4357.

Because of new students' arrival and the beginning of orientation activities, the parking office will be open on Monday (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and so will the bookstore, UW Shop, TechWorx and Campus TechShop (12:00 to 5:00) and the Feds Used Books outlet (9:00 to 5:00). The Dana Porter and Davis Centre libraries will be open from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, but closed Monday.

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Outline of orientation activities

More than 5,000 new students will begin their careers in higher education next week with a series of activities “designed to help them make a successful transition from high school to university”, a release from the UW media relations office explains.

“Orientation week, involving more than 1,000 volunteer leaders, helps first-year students begin the sometimes difficult transition from secondary school to university learning,” it says. “The five-day program, which officially begins Monday, offers a balanced mix of academic information and social activities.”

While most activities are designed for students in particular faculties or departments and residences or colleges, several target all first-year students. All are encouraged to attend one of several showings of “Single and Sexy”, a play that raises issues ranging from sex to social responsibility, and most will write the English Language Proficiency Exam.

Other campus-wide events include a Monte Carlo semi-formal event on Thursday, an opportunity to show traditional “school spirit” on Saturday, and the customary toga party.

"Our goal during orientation week is to introduce first-year students to a range of new things, academic or otherwise, that will help them as they adjust to a new environment, new expectations — in many ways a whole new world," says Heather FitzGerald, director of the student life office. "It's also an opportunity for the university and its Federation of Students to showcase their services. And it's a tremendous leadership experience for the more than 1,000 leaders."

The leaders will help students move into residence on Sunday and Monday, but most of their real work begins Monday afternoon. A period of games will allow students to meet and mingle with their residence or off-campus roommates. Students will then gather from 7 to 8:30 p.m. to participate in team-building activities on the Village Green.

Tuesday is largely an academic day. Students will meet their faculty deans or other members of their new faculties and departments. They’ll also tour campus and learn about the range of services available, from athletics to counselling. The day finishes with a Village variety night, with movies and live performers at various locations across campus, beginning at 9 p.m.

Wednesday and Thursday offer a mix of planned events and free time that students likely will need to finalize schedules, purchase textbooks, set up computer accounts, pick up financial documents, decorate residence rooms and catch some sleep. Faculties and departments will also offer program-specific information sessions. Thursday's big event is Monte Carlo, starting at 8 p.m. in the Student Life Centre and Physical Activities Complex.

On Friday, Jumpstart offers students an opportunity to learn more about university life. Guest speakers from across campus will host workshops on such topics as time management, academic integrity and note-taking.

Saturday provides students with an opportunity to show their Warrior spirit during Black & Gold Day. Carnival games, involving large inflatables, run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Students can cheer on the Warrior men's rugby team, when it competes against Toronto at 1 p.m. on the Columbia Lake fields. The day and week end with the outdoor toga party and alternative social programming.

Orientation isn’t just for students who live on campus: the off-campus dons run a special program for students outside the residences and colleges who still need to meet people and build community.

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UW's newest sponsored refugee, Samuel Banti of Ethiopia, arrived in Canada last week, and a contingent from the refugee committee of World University Service of Canada were at Pearson Airport to greet him. Among them: Tariu Kebede, second from left, who was the first student sponsored under the program a year ago, and Lise ter Woort of co-op education and career services, centre back, who serves as advisor to the group.

The university's other work goes on

A major event on campus this fall is going to be the conference "2017: The Workplace", subtitled "Examining the Future of Work". It's scheduled for October 14-16, and organized by a team based in the co-op education and career services department. One day of the conferences is slanted to researchers, one to top executives, and one to people involved in the employment process. "Are you interested in volunteering at 2017?" asks Sandy Clipsham of CECS. "There are a number of opportunities for faculty, staff, and students to volunteer as hosts, greeters, registration assistants, campus guides, room coordinators, and more. We need your help to make this event a resounding success!" Those who might be interested can reach her at clipsham@uwaterloo.ca.

And there's more, from Cathy Stein of CECS: "Calling all cards — business cards, that is! As part of the 2017 The Workplace conference, Co-operative Education & Career Services is creating a wonderful structure made out of business cards. This masterpiece will be on display throughout our three-day conference. We want you to be a part of it! Simply send us your business card (you can personally sign the front of it if you like) and we will add it to our creative design. You can be a student, staff or faculty member. Send your card to Cathy Stein, in Tatham Centre room 3207, by September 12."

On to other matters: the September issue of Chem 13 News is out, published by UW's department of chemistry to assist high school science teachers as they return to the classroom over the next few days. This issue has the usual mixture of technical information, teaching ideas, scientific puzzles and ads for classroom aids; it also includes the results of this year's Chem 13 News and Avogadro competitions run by UW for high school chemistry students. The front-page article, by faculty member Lew Brubacher, discusses the scientific background to the recent scandal over melamine in pet food (it seems the high presence of nitrogen in melamine boosts the apparent protein content of "flour" at very low cost). A full-page article elsewhere in the issue reports on a student poster done for Chemistry 323 by third-year student Calvin Jary, in which he described a process for producing visible nanoparticles of gold.

A flyer from Renison College is promoting a number of fall courses that aren't full yet, including "Religion in Popular Film", "Politics and Diplomacy of Contemporary Japan", "Theoretical Foundations of English Language Teaching", and "Social Work with the Elderly". • The Waterloo chapter of Sigma Chi fraternity boasts that it has received this year's Daniel William Cooper Scholarship Award for "the most outstanding scholarship program" among the fraternity's 221 chapters across the United States and Canada. • Organizers of the Royal Medieval Faire, to be held in Waterloo Park on September 15, are looking for "numerous volunteer helpers for games, gating or other activities"; details are online.

Warrior track and field coach Jason Dockendorff reports that “Jeremy Yang has committed to UW (kinesiology) for this September. Jeremy, a native of Waterloo and a graduate of Bluevale Collegiate Institute, is the 2007 OFSAA gold medalist in the long jump. Jeremy’s outstanding OFSAA winning leap of 7.24m would have placed him in the top five at last year’s CIS national championships as well as breaking a 36-year-old UW varsity record. No doubt Jeremy will be a huge force on the team and in the CIS this year. Another talented jumper, William Ibekwe, will also be joining the squad in the fall. William comes from Norco High School in Mira Loma, California, and is now enrolled in the biomedical sciences program at UW. The scouting report on William shows that he is a potential national championship qualifier in the triple jump and a strong contender in the long jump. These two talented freshmen paired with veteran national level jumper Jason Goetz is sure to produce some impressive and exciting results for the Warriors this coming season.”

And . . . this repeated announcement is aimed at graduate, mature, and upper-year students who don't yet have a place to live this fall:“Housing and Residences has partnered with an off-campus property management company to secure a limited number of brand-new two-bedroom apartments for UW students at Maple Hill Creek apartment complex located at the corner of Erb Street and University Avenue. Twelve-month leases are required at $1,100 a month plus hydro, and parking if applicable." To apply or to learn more, contact the off-campus housing specialist at och@uwaterloo.ca or phone ext. 35725.

CAR

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