Orientation undergoes structural changes

Changes made to eliminate extra time

This fall, incoming first-years and transfer students will encounter a slightly different orientation week than the one current Oberlin students experienced.

In response to student and staff feedback from evaluation surveys, the orientation committee has reduced orientation to five days, cutting two days off the previous week-long period and tightened the schedule of workshops and activities.

Ken Holmes, co-chair of the orientation committee along with Gloria White, said that many students who filled out surveys expressed dissatisfaction with the excessive amount of "lag time" during their first few days in Oberlin. Plans have been made to eliminate extra time.

In addition to schedule modifications, there will be several changes in activities themselves and the organization of peer groups. Community residence organizers (CROs) will act as orientation leaders, mentoring groups comprised of 15-20 students from various dormitories. Previously the peer groups were comprised of students from only one hall.

With this new organization first-years will have an opportunity to meet people who live on other parts of campus.

"We figure you're going to meet the people in your own dorm eventually anyway," Holmes said. "That just comes naturally with time."

Next year's orientation will include new small-group workshops on issues such as security, diversity, solving roommate conflicts and other issues that may be problematic for first-years in their adjustment to life at Oberlin. The committee's intent is to make future workshops more personalized and in-depth.

Inspired by a suggestion from President Nancy Dye, the committee would like to open up the year with a major speaker. A possible topic this fall might be "Learning and Labor," the College motto.

Plans for an all-class community service project are also being discussed. According to the committee, a project such as picking up highway trash could hopefully help students bond with their classmates and learn about the Oberlin area.

"We want to introduce them to not only the Oberlin community, but to the Lorain community as well - a common experience that the whole class can participate in," Holmes said.