There’s nothing quite like the sight of seeing a thousand students — packed into every seat in the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium — waving their Dalhousie colours around like a black-and-gold tornado.
Induction isn’t the first time that Dal’s newest students come together as a group: taking place on the third day of Orientation Week in Halifax and the first day of classes in Truro, it follows several days of activities in which students get introduced to their peers and their university. What makes Induction special, though, is that it’s the students’ first taste of what it’s like to be part of a larger community of scholars.
Faculty, administrators and student leaders all attend, not only observing as new students take the New Student Pledge but also taking the Faculty Pledge to support those students in the weeks, months and years ahead.
“Dalhousie is full of people who care about your success — not just your academics, but your development as a whole person, as a citizen of Dalhousie,” said Dal President Richard Florizone in his remarks. “So please don’t hesitate to reach out and ask for help: we’re here to be your mentors, your helping hands and your personal cheering section as you begin your academic journey.”
In Truro's ceremony for students in the Faculty of Agriculture, Dean and Campus Principal David Gray also spoke to the importance of a supportive community.
"The whole Ag community [is] here to support you in your studies and your life on campus: not only your professors, but teaching assistants, student advisors, RAs, and counsellors and dedicated staff," he said.
Truro induction on the Ag Campus.
Words of advice
The academic procession at the Halifax event was led by Medicine student Aaron Prosper, who performed the Mi'kmaq Treaty Song as acknowledgement of the event being held on traditional Mi'kmaq territory.
Later in the agenda Dalhousie Student Union President Kathleen Reid and Vice-President Student Life Kelsey Keddy both addressed Dal's new students. Reid (who made reference to having lost her voice at last year’s ceremony) delivered a spoken-word piece about some of the lessons she’s learned as a student.
“I learned that you don’t have to be at the top of your class to have more knowledge than the person five rows ahead of you with their hand shot high in the air,” she said. “You can stare at a textbook for hours, but the readings that matter are the ones that raise questions, not hands.
“I learned to join that band, commit to that event, because the people who go home at Thanksgiving and says that ‘university has nothing for me’ need to take their blinders off and look around at all the opportunity. Dalhousie has everything that you could need.”
Keddy spoke about how the students’ first days, first weeks and even the entire first year on campus are full of opportunities to discover what Dal has to offer and make the university their home.
“This is where no matter how different you are, how average you are, how anything you are, you fit,” she said. “Dal is like 19,000-piece puzzle and it wouldn’t be the same without each and every student… we all fit together, we hold each other up, and we hold each other in place.”
Induction pledges
New student pledge
I promise to uphold and protect the integrity, good character and scholarly legacy as well as the culture of respect and good citizenship at Dalhousie University.
Faculty pledge
Today, as each of you stand, you commit yourselves to the academic success of your students in the lifelong learning process. Will you, as Dalhousie University faculty and staff, promise to provide students with an enriched educational experience; with academic challenge through active and collaborative interactions; and with a supportive and engaging campus environment? (Answered with: I will.)