Memphis State University - DeSoto Yearbook (Memphis, TN)

Page 14 text:

Getting to Know You The sun may have been bright at 7:45 a.m., but ori- entation students some- times feel it ' s too early for a campus tour. Guide Kent Stoneking attempts to li- ven up the early morning strolls, but it was not an easy task. However, most students found it helpful to learn their way around the campus before classes Started. DevinGreaney New Student Orientation helps freshmen and transfer students get acquainted W h ' hile many students were sweating it out in summer school, approxi- mately 1,500 new students spent a bewildering two days on campus, trying to figure out just how to maneuver their way around the build- ings. These students, both transfers and freshmen, were participating in New Student Orientation, a serv- ice that Memphis State of- fers in order to get the stu- dents more acquainted with the campus and each other. New Student Orientation is only a part of a broad program named O.A.S.I.S., which is an acronym for Orientation And Student Information Services. The orientation program, in its present form, was begun in the summer of 1984 by cur- rent program director Char- les Griffin. Before Griffin took over the program, ori- entation was limited to a one- day campus tour and advising session for the new students. When he took charge, some drastic changes were made. The program developed into a two-day series of getting acquainted with both cam- pus administrators, such as Dr. Donald Carson and Dean Clarence Hampton, and the Academic Counsel- ing Unit, which primarily serves freshmen. One reason that orienta- tion was altered is the direc- tors felt an overnight stay in the residence halls would give the new students a taste of college dormitory life, even if only for one night. In addition, a two- day stay on campus pro- vides more time in which oaae, 10 , tales of tigers

Page 13 text:

tioeg ok ti erfi Cooling down. Jeff Lovelace of the Flying Mudders lets out a yell as he is squirted by a teammate. Lovelace was one of many who discovered that soap and water just don ' t do the trick after Mudball. DevinGreaney

Page 15 text:

Already in trouble? Park Jarrett of Clarksville appears confused as his name is called dur- ing the first few minutes of the ori- entation session he attended. Jarrett was one of many who fell victim to Dean Hampton, who good- naturedly teases the new students during orientation. Sherri Fisher the students can be in- formed about the services the university provides and the facilities they may use. A unique feature of the orientation is that al- though Griffin and other key administrators ulti- mately control the process, day-to-day features are run primarily by students who serve as guides to the orientationees. During the spring semester faculty members are asked for recommenda- tions on any student they feel will meet the tough standards set up by the guides ' selection commit- tee. While enthusiasm is usually the first trait people think the guides possess, a working knowl- edge of the campus and leadership abilities are the key characteristics the committee looks for. A student may become a guide by first applying for the position in the spring. Interviews are then set up. During the interviews, an applicant may be asked such questions as Why do you feel the catalog is im- portant? or What would you tell a student who wants to know what serv- ices the library offers? Immediately, a student who may have thought he knew the campus could suddenly realize that, in three years, he really hasn ' t learned much. However, after the selection process is over and guide training begins, the new guides learn more than they ever wanted to know about the campus. Although they have one month of situational train- ing, the guides seem to have a sudden panic attack that first morning of orientation when 175 new students look to them for leadership. But it gets easier. Over the course of the summer, the guides relax and perform their tasks like clockwork. However, burnout sets in around the eighth week. While this is particularly frustrating to the guides, some of the orientationees delight in sitting through an eight-minute O.A.S.I.S. session, which covers 17 major facts about the uni- versity. Immediately following the session, students are led in group tours of the John Willard Blister Li- brary. Tours of the library are considered a very im- portant part of a student ' s orientation to campus, since a major portion of his time will be spent there. Orientation is not just a Getting acquainted with other students is only one purpose of the orientation program as Lucy Gavin learns. Also as a part of the getting acquainted proc- ess, students have an overnight stay i n the dorm since program directors believe this may be the only experience some have with dorm life. Sherri Fisher boring, two-day indoctrina- tion to Memphis State. One of the most memorable fea- tures is The Show. Skits are performed by the stu- dents and choreographed by the guides. Most stu- dents dread the show at first because of stage fright, but they soon put their fears aside when they real- ize all the students are per- forming. What most of them don ' t realize is that, by re- hearsing with strangers and performing as a group, they have learned an essen- tial skill— cooperating with a leader and others. An additional part of ori- entation is rest and relaxa- tion time. The main com- plaint students have during the sessions is that the guides, who are accus- tomed to the fast pace, never slow down. However, when recreation time rolls around, the students seem to love to get active for a few hours at the HPER com- plex. Several tough basket- ball games have broken out, and some male orientation- ees were more than a little surprised when a female guide took them to the uni- versal free-weight room. The primary function of orientation is to make new students at Memphis State become more familiar and comfortable with the college environment and some of the people they will encoun- ter during their stay. And, in accomplishing that pur- pose, most students find that orientation is fun. ■ Sherri Fisher 7 orientation