By Alyssa Luckhurst
Another year’s orientation has come to an end and reviews are mixed.
Events included old favourites Glamour Bingo, an X-rated hypnotist, and the Parade and Picnic as well as new features, including a residence pep rally.
Orientation Facilitator Rachel Barreca brought five years of experience to the table. For her, the goal of orientation is to make everyone feel safe and welcome.
“There was room to make it bigger, certainly better,” she said.
“You can’t just have one option and think it’s going to fit everybody.”
The week of welcome events also included a groups day and the parade to the island, a yearly tradition for Ryerson students.
“It was the first spirit I’d seen at Ryerson,” said Brian Land, a first-year journalism student. The groups day on Gould Street gave students a chance to see what Ryerson has to offer after class. First-year nursing student Heidi Janson found ARRG, the Association of Ryerson Role-Players and Gamers.
“All of a sudden, I was home. The people I met with this club are so similar to me,” Janson said.
Students in residence received a different welcome. This year was the first time that senior students in residence made up the Residence Orientation Crew, signing a contract of sobriety for the week.
Residence Orientation Leader Sarah McCarthy said the university wanted to involve senior students more effectively.
“We thought that this position gave them the opportunity to help students at the time of the year when they need it the most,” she said.
Kailie Dunn disagreed. The second-year interior design student found that her responsibilities as a senior student hindered her ability to get to know the first years on her floor.
“I found that they thought of us more as authority figures, not just senior students,” Dunn said.
“They thought we could get them in trouble.”
There was some criticism for McCarthy’s orientation. Tim Dennis, a second-year geographic analysis student and ROC, said that most of the events needed to be shorter.
Milan Schramek, a first-year radio and television arts student, agreed.
“All the floor cheers and speeches, listening to all that was kind of lame. It took like two hours,” Schramek said.
Each orientation leader will submit a report outlining what worked and what didn’t, giving next year’s crews the tools to make their events the best yet.
“There are definitely changes to be made,” McCarthy said.
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