Orientation Week events kick off new school year

Orientation Week, a Laurier tradition, is returning to campuses this fall. Commonly referred to
as O-Week, this time serves as an introduction period for first-year students – allowing them to familiarize themselves with the campus, their peers and the Laurier community.

Taking place from Sept. 5 to Sept. 10, this year’s O-Week aims to integrate new students on both the Waterloo and Branford campuses through various events, activities and games. O-Week is planned and executed by Laurier senior student volunteers. These students take on roles such as executives, coordinators, liaisons and ice-breakers – all implemented with the purpose
of easing the transition from high school to university.

“The message that we’re making sure this year is that the programs and events we’re putting on really help connect and build relationships, have students [create] a familiarity with campus and really help academic success,” Mahsa Eskandari, Associate Vice President of Programming for the Waterloo Campus, said.

O-Week begins with two designated move-in days. During these times, first-year students living
in residence will be greeted by Laurier ice-breakers followed by an introduction to their rooms, floormates and dons.

The first official day of O-Week, Sept. 5, starts the integration process for first-year students in full force. Meetings with residence communities, campus tours and ice breaking activities are on the schedule.

Sept. 6 and Sept. 7 provide an academic introduction. Sections aimed to help students get their academic footing are set to take place on both days.

is includes a glimpse into Laurier’s athletic department.

“ e Athletic department will be running free classes for first-years … things that would be happening with a group [exercise] pass, like a Spin Class or Zumba,” Eskandari said.

‘We Got Game’, the headphone disco, carnival and drag show are among the list of events during the evening at the Waterloo campus.

“On that Thursday [the beginning of fall term], in the morning, we have a walking crew outside of

MacDonald House. And basically we have some volunteers that will walk first-years to classes that they can’t find.”

Additionally, the Waterloo campus will host musical duo, Loud Luxury, for the campus Welcome Back Concert – an event Eskandari believes is most anticipated among students.

“With our concert depending on space and capacity it should be open to all Laurier students, ” Eskandari explained.

The next day, first-year students can attend the ‘Get Involved Fair’ – which will feature various booths around the Waterloo campus pro- viding information on the clubs, associations and student union

committees offered at Laurier. To end the week, students will

participate in Shine Day – an initiative for raising money and aware- ness for Cystic Fibrosis. Shine Day donations are put toward the charity Shinerama, Canada’s largest post-secondary fundraiser.

“[Shinerama] has a special place in a lot of people’s hearts,” Eskandari said.

Eskandari also mentioned the fundraising plan for Shine Day, noting “This year we’re going to be doing three different components.” is includes a carnival, a car wash that is open to everybody in the community and a bottle drive.

“All of the days leading up to [Shine Day] we’re also doing sh

barbecues where everybody who’s on campus can come by for a quick bite,” Eskandari said.

O-Week 2022 is the first entirely in-person orientation week since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Eskandari touched on the excitement shared from both volunteers and executives alike as everybody is eager to see O-Week make an in-person comeback this year.

In regard to frst-year students, Eskandari o ers a piece of advice – “Put yourself out there, come to the events, try things out.”

Further information on Laurier Orientation Week 2022 can be found on the organization’s website.