Orientation Week’s Super Tuesday

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The rain sure didn’t keep hundreds of frosh away from the orientation events on Tuesday, Sept. 3, as they officially became members of the UNBSJ wolf pack.

Beginning around 8:30 a.m, new students from all over the country piled into Ganong Hall Lecture Theatre to participate in Super Tuesday. They were greeted with a warm welcome from Student Services, the Students’ Representative Council (SRC) and the countless O-Week volunteers that gave their time to make this day a success.

Worries and fears about attending university were soon replaced with eagerness and excitement for the school year to begin, thanks to the catchy music and friendly faces throughout the room.

UNBSJ vice president, Robert Mackinnon, opened the ceremony by welcoming the new students to campus. He encouraged them to make the best of their time spent at university and to get involved as much as possible. Members of the SRC executive, including president, Ashley Macosky and VP student affairs, Jen Brown, also addressed the students and prepared them for the day ahead. They too encouraged students to get involved and be aware of the many resources that UNBSJ has to offer.

After other members of the SRC were introduced, it was time to kick off the annual Super Tuesday Minute to Win It Challenge. The participants were chosen to play the game based on their dancing skills. While twerking was discouraged, it was clear that many of the new students could really bust a move.

Through a variety of competitions including cup stacking, M&M sorting, puzzle making and Oreo eating, eight participants were narrowed down to one final winner. This lucky student won a brand new iPad mini and the runner up received a pair of Beats by Dre headphones. All other contestants won prizes as well, including iTunes cards, movie passes and gift cards to American Eagle.

Everyone received swag as the O-Week leaders handed out the Frosh Kits. The kits included lots of goodies: frisbees, cups, agendas, several student discount coupons and a miniature Sea Wolf. Students also received a punch card to take to every O-Week event. Once students attend every event, their name will be put into a draw to win a MacBook Pro.

Once the frosh received their “Keep Calm and Howl On” t-shirts, they partook in a yummy candy bar where they were split into groups for academic orientation. These various orientation sessions were based on faculty and gave students a chance to meet some of the professors, understand the expectations for their various degree programs and gave students an idea of what university will be like.

Academic orientation was well received and many students seemed keen to dive into student life. Students were treated to lunch in the Baird Cafeteria and signed up to participate in the Amazing Race activity across campus.

Brett Jones, a first year business student found Super Tuesday to be very informative, “It was well organized,” says Jones “a very entertaining day filled with excitement!”

While Super Tuesday was just the beginning of a fun filled Orientation week, it successfully gave new students a great first impression of what UNBSJ is all about!

Emily is in her fourth year of Political Science. She loves studying and academics which follows into her research work. She's a stern black coffee drinker and is a proud Acadienne. When she's not working or doing school work, you can find Emily listening to 70s music on vinyl and watching Parks and Recreation. If you ask her about parliamentary institutions, she won't stop talking.