By Rob South
Preparing for 3,800 first-year students and 1,200 transfer students is no easy task, but U of C 101 organizers are well prepared this year.
Now in its fourth year of operation, U of C 101, the mandatory orientation program for all first-year and transfer students at the University of Calgary, is going to be largely the same as the previous year’s program with some fine tuning.
"We are increasing the focus on transfer students by giving them more detailed information," said Amy McEvoy, U of C 101 Program Manager. "Chances are [transfer students] know the questions to ask, but still need to know the nuts and bolts of campus and need to network."
Additionally, there will be several new elective sessions this year, including sessions on crime prevention, English as a second language and preparing to become a veterinarian.
U of C 101 participants will be lead around by over 220 student leaders who volunteered for the program in February. The program normally expects about 15 per cent of leaders will not be able to keep their commitment, but that has not happened this year.
"It’s astounding, the most we have ever had," said McEvoy. "No [student leader] has dropped out."
Students can get food at lunch time from the Students’ Union who will be running a barbeque and smoothie bar. SU Vice-president Events Alix d’Archangelo explained why the smoothie bar will replace the traditional barbeque for one day.
"You come back hungry for burgers, but we have all had our fill by the end of September," said d’Archangelo. "[Smoothie bars] are something nice, something healthy, something different."
The SU’s "Party At Our Place" will wrap up U of C 101. For $7 students can see comedians, sing karaoke, play free arcade games, watch a movie and dance at Max Café: another $10 will buy tickets for Edwin, Zuckerbaby and Templar who will play the Ballroom. According to d’Archangelo the intent of the event is to make new students feel welcome and to have a lot of fun in the
process.
"The whole building is going to go off," said d’Archangelo. "We have events going from one end of [Mac Hall] to the other."