Editor’s note: This article was initially published in The Daily Gazette, Swarthmore’s online, daily newspaper founded in Fall 1996. As of Fall 2018, the DG has merged with The Phoenix. See the about page to read more about the DG.
With spring weather just beginning to arrive, the Orientation Committee (OC) is already beginning to plan for this coming August and the arrival of the class of 2009. Simone Boyle ’07, Kristen Davis ’06, Alex Ginsberg ’08, Kathy Humani ’07, Yoshi Johnson ’07, Yoel Kifle ’07, Matt Schiller ’07, Amy Stocker ’07, and Jee Young Oh ’08 comprise this year’s committee. This was the first year that students applied separately to be selected as members of the OC.
With the selection of the committee comes planning of orientation and selection of Campus Advisors (CAs). CAs will arrive on campus on August 19 and will go through training. Then, according to Schiller, CAs “will be responsible for cooperating [with] the OC and creating a fun/safe atmosphere for all the incoming freshmen.”
No specifics as to what orientation activities will be held have been made official yet, though the OC already seems to be making progress overall. On the group’s first meeting Stocker commented, “We were all really enthusiastic, and a lot of good suggestions concerning orientation and the CA application process were made.”
Individuals on the committee each bring their own strengths and experiences to the table. Schiller noted, “As a fall athlete, I really felt like I missed out on a lot of orientation because I was always busy with soccer practice. I’m hoping to help integrate the incoming freshmen athletes into the orientation programs a little better, so they don’t feel like they’re missing out, since I know I felt like some social groups had already started forming before I’d even gotten a change to meet anyone. Hopefully, there will be more opportunities for intermingling of CA groups, so that everyone will have a fun environment to meet all the incoming frosh in, not just a small, random group.”
Upperclassmen who look at this year’s CA application may notice some differences from past years’ applications, including a change in the style of some of the questions asked. According to Stocker, “After reviewing the application we decided to take out some of the questions asked in previous years in order to concentrate on what the applicant really has to offer the orientation program. I think the main thing we are looking for in a CA is a genuine interest in getting to know and help out first year students. A CA is one of the first people a first year student meets and because of this, it is important that the CAs really devote themselves to the orientation program during those couple of days.” Schiller added that the OC is looking for people “who have made the most of their time at [S]wat so far” and who can show “commitment.”
CA applications were made available in an e-mail this past Monday and can also be obtained outside Parrish 108 as well as across from the post office by the SEO board. Students must turn in their CA applications to Diane Watson in Parrish 108 by Wednesday, April 6 at 4:30 p.m. The OC encourages students with questions to contact them.