Dalhousie comes alive

The clues are everywhere. The Ônew textbookÕ scent drifts through the hallways. Overstuffed minivans and U-HAUL trucks are on every street corner downtown. The local Staples is more jammed than rush hour traffic. All the evidence points to one conclusion:

TheyÕre back.

The population of Dalhousie University Ð and by extension, Halifax Ð rises significantly this week, as the majority of DalÕs 15,000 students descend on campus. As returning students settle down for another semester of lectures, labs and life lessons, more than 1700 new students arrive to the Dalhousie family fresh from high school.

New recruits

While itÕs a big week for everyone at Dalhousie, these new students coming to university for the very first time have a particularly busy week ahead of them. Before they navigate the hallways looking for their first classes Ð September 7 for most undergraduate programs Ð theyÕre spending four days getting to know their housemates and classmates through the Dalhousie Student UnionÕs orientation week.

ÒThis year students can look forward to one of the best orientation weeks yet,” says DSU President Ezra Edelstein. ÒIt allows every new student to meet their fellow classmates and learn about opportunities to participate in the Dalhousie community outside of the classroom. Students are guaranteed to have an amazing time.”

The activities began on September 3, when President Tom Traves welcomed the future class of 2010 into the Dalhousie community, at a formal induction ceremony at the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium. The event, new this year, mirrors the convocation ceremony students participate in when they complete their degrees. The ceremony featured a keynote speech from the Rt. Hon. Joe Clark, former Prime Minister and Dalhousie law student.

Other activities throughout the week range from kitchen parties and beach bashes to cheer-offs and a campus-wide Frisbee golf challenge. One of the most notable events is Shinerama, the yearly fundraiser where students take over downtown Halifax and raise money with car washes, musical performances and whatever else they can come up with to help fight Cystic Fibrosis. Last year, Dalhousie raised an impressive $60,000; this year the DSU hopes to collect over $75,000. So if you see Dalhousie students around Halifax on September 5, take the time to stop and donate for a worthy cause.

Orientation week closes on September 6 with an awards ceremony and rock concert in the quad in front of the Henry Hicks building, featuring Juno-nominated rock group Pilot Speed (formerly known as Pilate) along with guests Cuff the Duke, Uncut and The Chronicles. The show runs from 6 to 11 p.m.

From all corners of the globe

Some of these students arenÕt just new to Dalhousie; many are new to Canada as well. For these international students, orientation began last week at sessions organized by the International Student and Exchange Services office (ISES) with details about campus life and life in a new country.

ÒItÕs a friendly, interesting place,” says Justin Hine, an Australian exchange student who came to Dalhousie this year to study law. HeÕs excited about living in Halifax amongst so many other students.

Activities during the orientation sessions included campus tours, a city tour of Halifax, an evening harbour cruise, and information sessions on such topics as health and wellness, immigration, academic resources and employment. With significant improvements this year for international students looking to work off-campus and acquire health insurance, students are encouraged to visit the ISES office in the Killam Memorial Library or at the Student Service Centre on the Sexton Campus to explore the opportunities available to them.

The excitement builds

Some people get a closer look at how the relative quiet of the summer gives way to the sudden hustle and bustle of September. Thomas Corkum works at the campus bookstore and is prepared for a busy week. ÒThe rush is starting up; itÕs going to be brutal,” he laughs. Still, Corkum says he loves working at the store this time of year. ItÕs a lot of fun helping new and returning students find the books, school supplies and clothing theyÕre seeking, he says.

Another person with a keen eye on the changes happening across campus is Bonnie Neuman, DalhousieÕs Vice-President of Student Services. Everything from the registrarÕs office to housing to academic advising falls under her banner. ÒOur staff and faculty have been busy preparing to welcome DalÕs new students as well as returning students,” she says. ÒItÕs a delightful time of year for us, as the campus comes alive with students excited about returning to classes and meeting up with their friends and professors again.”

Student Services has been working on a number of changes around campus, such as starting to refurnish the Killam Library Atrium to create a more comfortable student-friendly space, a re-launch of ResTV with increased functionality, and the addition of bar codes to the U-Pass student transit passes, which will significantly speed up distribution.

So whether youÕre one of the 1850 students moving into a Dalhousie residence or among thousands more settling into a new apartment; whether itÕs your first time on campus or youÕve lost count, take the time to enjoy the rush of the back to school season Ð it only happens once a year!