University of Arkansas Fayetteville - Razorback Yearbook (Fayetteville, AR)

Page 12 text:

IRST IMPRESSIONS Orientation Leaders try to make life easy for new students. A misty fog lingered in the already- humid early morning air as a steady stream of sleepy students dressed in red- and-white stripes anxiously headed, al¬ beit in no particular hurry, from Gregson Lodge toward the Union. Once the balloons were in place, the Hogs had been called and the greeter with peppermints was ready, smiling faces wel¬ comed the masses with the popular slogan, “We’re glad you’re here!” “I like working with people, and I love going to school at Arkansas,” junior Leslie Lee said. “Be¬ ing an Orientation Leader allowed me to help other people like it here as much as I do.” New Student Orienta¬ tion, a process which, for most people, involved a one- or two-day time commitment, really be¬ gan with the selection of more than 30 student Orientation Leaders, of¬ ten described as hyper, happy and anything but shy, in early spring. In T elling it like it is, Orientation Leader Rebecca Taylor i discusses campus life with her small group. Many Orientation Leaders tried to be as animated as possible in order to keep the new students’ attention. [Photo by Susan Rinehart] Matt Maverick small group meetings, campus tours and their first brush with the Hogcall telephone registration system, Orientation Leaders fielded questions ranging from which pro¬ fessors were tough to the location of the nearest bathroom. “I remember asking lots of questions,” freshman Randall Brumfield said. “Most of them seem petty now, like ‘Is there a dress code when you go to class?’ I wasn’t even sure how to say mV major -- kinesiology. Orien¬ tation definitely helped to answer my questions.” “The best part about be¬ ing an Orientation Leader was meeting new students and being their first contact with the University,” junior Chase Harding said. “I liked helping them make their schedules and watching them pulling out their hair because they weren’t geti ting the classes they wanted. I would tell therM ‘It’s not a big deal. You’re going to be here for awhile.’! Sometimes running witl 1 only their enthusiasm left ' Orientation Leaders faced June, a rigorous training process began, from which emerged a knowledgeable, eager team whose work with thousands of incoming students and their families was just beginning. “The first session was definitely the most memorable, because that’s what we had prepared for,” Lee said. “It finally came, and I was so excited.” Leading the new students through their days (often 18-hours long) with th e knowledge that, somehow, they were mak ing a difference in others’ lives. “I remember sitting in the Leader Loung totally worn out and tired, but knowing th I had to go back out there and smile in thre e minutes,” Harding said. “But, I think it important that Orientation leaves yo knowing there is someone at the Univeq sity who cares about you being here.” 10 Orientation

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1 | mm H opes of a future home are dashed by the incident that occured on August 18. Sigma Phi Epsilon’s charter was suspended due to the racially offensive words shouted at a professor. Members that were not involved in the incident eventually decided to close their chapter because of financial reasons. (Photo by Walt Beazley] A fter taking pictures of the statue, a chair was thrown from a window which landed in front of Professor Carlton Bailey. Bailey reported the act to the University Police and University administration shortly thereafter. (Photo by Walt Beazley] Sigma Phi Epsilon 9

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W aiting for her group, International Orientation Leader Susan Brock, a senior, and a new student chat with Orientation Leader Michael Berryman before a session. [Photo by Susan Rinehart] dentation Leader Allison Walker hands a new student his check-in materials on the first day of an Orientation session. Sessions were held throughout the summer to give each student a chance to attend. [Photo by Susan Rinehart] D iligently working, Orientation Leader Chase Harding assists new students through part of registration. New students received many new materials at Orientation. Students were also able to register for classes on the sec¬ ond day of Orientation. [Photo by Susan Rinehart] Orientation 11