Oregon State University - Beaver Yearbook (Corvallis, OR)

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connect week £7ricom su s zzc cz tw too A t z’zr zzwt s e w tozoa Y s 6ecomz a z c ozzzi (Arzzztvw very year the office of Student Orientation and Retention (SOAR) helps new students transition from high school to the beginning of their college life. Staff members helped each student by giving them the resources and assistance they need to become part of the OSl' community. SOAR was an excellent source for any possible question or snag that students may have encountered along the way. Connect week was one of their most well-known activities. It occurred one week prior to the start of fall term. This year it lasted the week of Sept. 20-25, 2005. Rick DcBcllis, an orientation program organizer, mentioned that Connect week actually lasted more two and a half weeks instead of one. This was due to the fact that there was a program called Footsteps that occurred before Connect week. Footsteps was an organized trip that allowed freshmen and transfer students to meet new people while participating in a fun and exciting atmosphere away from the campus. This years trip was white water rafting. This year SOAR also worked with downtown businesses, public safety, and hundreds of students and faculty volunteers to “...Roll out the orange welcome mat, said Marcus Langford, another orientation program organizer. The programs, like Late Night at Fred Meyer, that occurred during this special week gave students an opportunity to connect with incoming students, staff, the OSl’ campus, and the overall Corvallis community. In the end. there were relatively 150-175 programs for new students to choose from. One of those programs was the new student walk. It consisted of students dividing into their particular major anil college anil then walking with one another from the Memorial Union quad to Gill Coliseum, just as they will ilo four years dow n the r« ad during commencement. This new tradition started in 2004 and will continue to occur during every Connect week in the future. I-angford 1 relieved the student walk was a key factor in the first chapter in a student’s book of their college experience. After all, each student might as well start out with one fixrt ahead. Stoty by Izabela Chamot ■vents 'TraatiZo is

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Above left: Freshmen shed green ribbons and Rook lids for the long awaited burning of the green, and the can officially be called sophomores. Photo from the 1952 Beaver Yearbook Above: The night before the Homecoming football game OSU students, faculty and alumni gather on campus for the annual bonfire. As the flames grow higher, coaches and players speak about the upcoming game while the marching band and cheerleaders lead the crowd in a rousing rendition of the OSU fight song. Photo by Josh Maguire Events CJrat itiOfvs- 7

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Right: Working together as a team to solve the chal lenging puzzle given to them, a group of incoming freshmen learn skills that they can later apply to their studies at OSU. Photo submitted by Student Orientation and Retention Above middle: During Connect week. SOAR hosts a carnival that includes all sorts of activities. Here a student rode the elliptical for a world turning experience. Above right: Red Robin joins the festivities by promoting the classic cheeseburgers that make great studying food. Photos submitted by Student Onentation and Retention Above: The tradition of the new student walk allows students to congregate within their particular college and major. They will walk with these same people during commencement. Here the OSU Marching Band greet first-year students with a rousing rendition of the fight song. Photo provided by Student Orientation and Retention Connect