Fairmont State University - Mound Yearbook (Fairmont, WV)

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New freshman could be seen moving their posses- sions into the dorm during the three day orientation which began Aug. 22. One of the 80 freshman counselors who attended training camp at Mountwood takes a minute to catch up on the news. Eighty counselors greeted freshmen August 22 to begin a three-day orientation to acquaint them with the campus and each other. Arriving at Mountwood, near Parkersburg, 80 upperclassmen prepare for intense training as freshman counselors. Student Government president Tim Watson greeted freshman during the first evening of orientation in the parking lot above the brary. Freshman Orientation 7

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ff n tudent Leaders k : Freshman counselors work hard to WL J make freshman orientation a success. W Without them, many freshmen would j be confused and disappointed. Guidance is provided by upper- classmen who are counselors to aide the newcomers in the start of college life. They were chosen by William Bailey and Michael Belmear, Student Affairs counselors, based on leadership skills, communication skills, and participa- tion in college activities. Eighty counselors were chosen out of 130 applicants. Counselors and administrators greeted the freshmen as they first encountered their new stomping grounds on Aug. 22. The three-day event was designed to give students a chance to be- come acquainted with the campus and each other. However, preparation time took a lot longer than three days. Counselors attended a training session Aug. 18-20 at Mountwood, located near Parkersburg to learn to work as a team and to generate and limit conversation. The focal point was how to involve quiet students to make them feel like they belonged. According to Bailey, The counselors have to be role models. They must be able to provide the basic information so that the students will have someone to go to with their problems or questions. On the first evening of orientation, Billy Crystal ' s hit song inspired the class of 1990 into consuming marvelous hot dogs, potato chips and pop at a picnic in the parking lot above the library. The new freshmen ' s first day of orientation saw them involved in various activities, like gathering in groups by birth- days, squatting on each other ' s laps while trying to walk in a complete circle and hugging other people who were complete strangers. Soon, nearly everyone became accustomed to intro- ducing themselves repeatedly. Orientation gave freshmen a few extra days to make a dorm room feel like home. Freshman Counselors enjoyed a relaxed but competitive game of volleyball during train- ing camp at Mountwood in Parkersburg. 6 Freshman Orientation

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The freshman counselors had to get in on the act and topped off the evening by giving a variety show in the Wallman Hall Auditorium. The counselors creatively explained the Twelve Days of College and displayed their talents in lip-synching, aero- bics, acting and an all-male beauty pageant. On the second day, college presi- dent Dr. Wendell G. Hardway and Student Government president Tim Watson greeted the newcomers. Afterwards, the freshmen broke into groups and counselors helped guide them through the confusion of pay- ing tuition and buying books. A dance in the Feaster Center provided time for the freshmen to unwind and meet new people. On the last day of orientation, freshmen representatives were elected to student government and counselors answered ques- tions about college lite. A pizza party in the Feaster Center again toMi provided time to unwind and meet more people. The counselors also gave the students their phone numbers, in case they were ever in need of further assistance. Even after classes began, freshman counselors were still visibly seen across campus to help anyone who still felt lost or out-of-place, be- cause adjusting to a new place takes longer than the three days set aside for orientation. The first week of a new way of life provided many new experiences, in- cluding dorm life, communting, mak- ing new friends, and most important, a sense of independence. Even after three days of walking across campus to find themselves in the wrong rooms, standing in lines for what seemed like hours and dropping loads of books, freshmen settled nicely. They had found a new home on the hill with a little help from the counselors. 8 Freshman Orientation