REPORTER THETHE ORIENTATION ISSUE ORIENTATION ISSUE AUGUST 2019 reporter.rit.edu
Please Recycle
REPORTER EDITOR IN CHIEF Cayla Keiser PRINT MANAGING EDITOR Kasey Mathews ONLINE MANAGING EDITOR Victoria Sebastian COPY EDITOR Mimi Lee NEWS EDITOR Marilyn Wolbert TECHNOLOGY EDITOR Karina Le LEISURE EDITOR Anika Talia Griffiths FEATURES EDITOR Morgan LaMere WELLNESS EDITOR Tyler English VIEWS EDITOR Ali Johnston WRITERS Kasey Mathews, Cayla Keiser, Anika Talia Griffiths, Karina Le, Kevin Zampieron, Liz Peterson, Marilyn Wolbert
ART ART DIRECTOR Lily Garnaat ONLINE ART MANAGER Monica Nguyen-Vo SENIOR DESIGNER Cassy Smithies DESIGNERS Elin Smith, Dhensel Dorji, Lauren Perttula, Kevin Zampieron, Nancy Perez, Alyssa Minko ILLUSTRATORS Angela Krieg, Asher Bozman, Maliheh Rahrovan
PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTO EDITOR Catherine Rafferty PHOTOGRAPHERS Jesse Wolfe, Tony Wen, Olivia Kaiser, Natalie Whitton
EDITOR’S NOTE When I first arrived at RIT, I was a gangly, acne-ridden, 18-year-old fresh off the plane from Oregon. Tired of small-school life, I had chosen the biggest college on my list and moved across the country. I was convinced settling in would be a breeze. It didn’t exactly happen that way. For those first several months, I was horribly, crushingly homesick. I missed my friends and family with an intensity that made my chest ache. I missed the mountains, the tall fir trees and the soft mists of home. But most of all, I missed the sense of belonging that comes when you feel truly grounded. For weeks, I was utterly convinced something was wrong with me. If college is supposed to be the best time of your life, why was I so unbearably miserable? Now, I don’t say this to scare you. Or to say that all of you will experience the same loneliness I did. Some of you, I’m sure, will adjust with a graceful ease that would have made my freshman self green with envy. What I am trying to say is, if you do find yourself homesick, please, please be patient with yourself. It does take time. But you also have to be proactive. Get out there in the world and find people who are passionate about the same things you are. As a fellow introvert, I know this can be a terrifying prospect. Things might not work out the first time, and you will need to be persistent. While your orientation leaders may be overly optimistic in most regards, they are right about one thing — there really is something on this campus for everyone. Sometimes, you just have to look hard to find it. For me, I eventually found my place and people at Reporter. These folks have grounded me, kept me sane, challenged me and been my family for these past four years. No other organization has shaped me more as a person, and I doubt any other ever will. Slowly, through my classes and avenues like Reporter, my homesickness started to diminish. It wasn’t easy, and it didn’t happen overnight. But one weakly sunny January day, I was walking along the quarter mile and realized that I had made a home here. Not only that, but one filled with people and things I cared deeply about. I can’t promise that these years will be the best years of your life. But I will promise that they will be unique. Embrace these years and use them to grow.
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2 Orientation
TABLE OF CONTENTS cover and TOC photography by Jesse Wolfe
4
6
8
CONNECTING CULTURES Don’t be afraid to bridge the gap between the Deaf and hearing communities
YOUR HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER WAS RIGHT Take note of these notetaking tips
AYL: RESOURCES ON CAMPUS Where to go on campus for academic help, financial guidance or social support
10
12
13
REDUCE, REUSE, BUT SHOULD YOU RECYCLE? Surprise! Recycling is an extremely complicated process
14
OPPOSING VIEWS: ORIENTATION Is orientation beneficial, or are all of those icebreakers unnecessary?
PARTY HARD, PARTY SAFE A few safety tips to keep in mind while you’re wildin’ it up
CLEAN SPACE, CLEAR MIND It’s important to keep your personal space clean and comfortable
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reporter.rit.edu Orientation 3
Connecting Cultures by Kasey Mathews | photography by Tony Wen | design by Elin Smith
C
ollege is a time of many new experiences — it’s important to experiment to find what is right for you. At RIT, this comes with a very unique opportunity. According to the National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID) study, Rochester is home to the largest per capita population of deaf and hard-ofhearing individuals in the nation, largely thanks to the presence of NTID. Many students who arrive on campus, however, have little experience with Deaf culture. This can lead to some anxiety and apprehension when it comes to communication. After all, it is much easier to associate with those who communicate in the same language. Yet, the more we isolate ourselves in our own communities, the more easily we lose out on important ideas and viewpoints that we may not have thought of.
The Language Gap Deirdre Schlehofer, professor at NTID in the Department of Culture and Creative Studies, always encourages greater interaction
between the Deaf and hearing communities. She’s noticed a larger number of students are arriving on campus with prior knowledge of American Sign Language (ASL), but admits that there is still a large communication gap to overcome. In her classes, many of her students have told her they had little to no exposure to Deaf culture or ASL before coming to RIT. But they would take a class with an interpreter or meet a Deaf student on their floor in the residence halls and would strike up an interest in learning more. “Because of ... that initial contact with a new culture and a new language, [it] is enough to open their minds and make them curious ... ” Schlehofer said. “Many, many students in my courses over the years have said that.” A student interested in Deaf culture at RIT doesn’t necessarily need to enroll in a formal course to learn more about ASL. Due to the unique environment of this campus, students often are able to teach themselves ASL through practice with their peers. No Voice Zone, a weekly
ASL workshop on campus, is another great resource. We have many opportunities to get involved with the culture, but what exactly is Deaf culture?
“It doesn’t matter that you don’t share a common language.” As language is a key component of culture, communities who use different languages develop different cultures. Such is the case with the Deaf community. However, Deaf culture is not as cut and dry as an outsider may believe. “We’re not a homogeneous Deaf community,” Schlehofer said. Just as hearing students come from diverse backgrounds, so do Deaf students. According to Schlehofer, approximately 90 percent of the Deaf students on campus come from hearing families in which they are the only deaf member. Many of these students grew up reading lips or by finding a different method of communication. In fact, many Deaf students come to RIT not knowing any ASL at all. They learn the language right alongside their hearing classmates. Further, to assume a student’s hearing status is presumptuous. Not all hearing students communicate solely through spoken English; likewise, not all deaf students communicate solely through ASL. Many hearing students are also fluent in ASL or are in the process of learning, whereas many deaf or hard-of-
John Blau (right), a fourth year Game Design and Development major, learns new signs during No Voice Zone (NVZ) from Judy Mermelstein (left), a fourth year American Sign Language and Interpreting Education major who volunteers as an instructor for the event on April 17, 2019 at the Student Development Center in Henrietta, N.Y. Blau is an Resident Advisor in Ellingson Hall who wants to practice his ASL so he can better communicate with some residents on his floor that are hard-ofhearing or deaf. 4 Orientation
hearing students may know very little of the language and prefer speech. Cochlear implants can also be seen on many students, but this does not guarantee their hearing is comparable to that of their hearing peers. You cannot always rely on external indicators, as there’s more to Deaf culture than meets the eye.
ApprehensioN Hearing students are often apprehensive and anxious when it comes to interacting with their Deaf peers, and the opposite is likewise often true. As the saying goes, birds of a feather flock together. It’s much easier to relate to those who are most like you. We all are students at the same university, and to cluster together limits our views to only reflecting on the experiences of those most similar to us. You should not be hesitant to reach out to a hearing classmate, nor a deaf classmate. As a class and as a community, we work together and thrive together. “Human beings are amazing in their ability to find ways to express themselves ... through different means of communication,” Schlehofer said. “You can use gestures, you can write notes on paper or text into your phone. Human beings are born with an innate ability to be creative and communicate. It doesn’t matter that you don’t share a common language.”
While Schlehofer admitted that Deaf individuals are likely more experienced with finding creative ways to communicate, the ability to do so lies within everyone.
Taking the Leap It’s never a bad idea to reach out and chat with someone from another community, and there are steps students can take to break down communication barriers. The first and easiest way would be to interact with students who know ASL and pick up on the language one word at a time.
“We’re not a homogeneous Deaf community.” The second, as previously mentioned, is to attend No Voice Zone. This student-run workshop occurs every Wednesday evening in the Student Development Center, underneath Dining Commons. Most clubs and organizations across campus are inclusive of both hearing and deaf members — including those within NTID. The next would be to take an ASL class. They’re some of the most popular language classes offered at RIT and extremely accommodating of beginners. Many students
take an ASL class and fall in love, declaring an immersion in the language, if not a minor or a full ASL and Interpreting Education major. NTID also offers a number of events that can further one’s understanding of the language and culture, and provides opportunities to connect with students — both Deaf and hearing — on a more casual note. Regardless, it is important to make those connections in any way possible. On one hand, it can make you a more well-rounded person. On the other hand, it provides you with the chance to get to know someone you may not have interacted with before. As Schlehofer said, “If a student comes to it with a natural curiosity and they are willing to learn ... then there’s really plenty of opportunity to learn sign language.”
Laura Sebag Guetta (back), who just graduated from a college in France, volunteers to teach French Sign Language (LSF) to those who are already proficient in ASL on April 17, 2019 during NVZ at the Student Development Center in Henrietta, N.Y. NVZ is a weekly event hosted by the Center for Residence Life where people at different ASL-fluency levels can improve their skills and knowledge on ASL.
Orientation 5
by Cayla Keiser | illustration by Angela Krieg | design by Elin Smith
“Y
ou’d better write this down — it’s going to be on the test,” said every teacher ever in high school. Most likely, you either responded by pulling out a billion colorful pens and colorcoded notebooks, or rolled your eyes before proceeding to sit and listen to — or tune out — the following lesson. But there’s a reason why your teacher always stressed notetaking, and why you should continue to heed their advice as you transition into college. Without reinforcement, we tend to forget approximately 40 percent of all the information we learn in 24 hours. This is due to the curve of forgetting, which says that we will forget new information if we don’t work with it constantly. Taking effective notes helps you “recall what has been learned and retain that information over time,” according to The Conversation, a non-profit news outlet authored by academics. As you settle into courses and figure out which notetaking method works best for you in your new major, here are 10 tips for how to take the best notes.
Have a consistent structure for your notes. Whether you do an outline format, make flow charts or follow the Cornell Method, choose a structure and stick to it.
6 Orientation
If you prefer handwriting your notes, choose a writing utensil that feels natural to write with. Personally, I like G2 black ink pens or the mechanical pencils you twist at the bottom.
If you’re typing your notes, consider organizing them in files by semester, then course, then unit, then date. This will make it easier for you to refer back to them.
Paraphrase notes in your own words, rather than write down exactly what the professor says. You’ll process the information better and ensure that you comprehend what was discussed.
Color code or highlight key concepts. This will make your review more effective and help you actively understand the main points of each lecture.
Take your notes twice. Write them initially during class, then either rewrite or type the most important information later on. This will not only help you study, but also give you a chance to refine your notes, either expanding on them or cutting unimportant details.
Read the book or preview the lecture the night before. This is my personal favorite. Take notes from the reading or PowerPoint slides prior to the class. This way, you can simply add to them and highlight the most important points. You won’t be scrambling to write every bit of information down in class; rather, you’ll be reinforcing it.
If you ask a question, write down the answer. Chances are you asked the question to clarify a point, and you’ll want to remember the answer when you’re looking back on the lesson.
Review your notes right away, and even write a small summary at the bottom of the page. This will make certain that you understand the material and help you remember it.
Go over your notes with a study buddy. This provides the chance to learn new ways of looking at a topic and improve information retention.
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AT YOUR LEISURE
RESOURCES ON CAMPUS by Anika Talia Griffiths | design by Dhensel Dorji
STUDENT EMPLOYMENT OFFICE
ACCESS SERVICES
ACADEMIC SUPPORT CENTER
The Student Employment Office is a good place
This office ensures that students have equal
The Academic Support Center provides free
to start when applying to on-campus jobs, as
access to all that RIT offers by providing
tutoring and support courses tailored to help
real-time captioning, interpreters and note-
students catch up in math and physics.
well as validating employment eligibility.
USC-1350
taking services.
HLC-1515
8 Orientation
MON-2080
Q CENTER
OMBUDS
DISABILITY SERVICES OFFICE
This is a safe space where LGBTQ+ students
This office operates independently from the
Staff here work to ensure that students with
can go to connect with one another. Allies
university. So, this is a good place to go if you
disabilities or medical conditions are given the
and questioning students can also learn more
want impartial and confidential guidance
accommodations they need to succeed.
about queer identities here.
through a difficult situation.
SAU-A530
SAU-1114
SAU-1150
MULTICULTURAL CENTER FOR
INTERNATIONAL STUDENT
CENTER FOR WOMEN AND
ACADEMIC SUCCESS
SERVICES
GENDER
Offering tutors and personal advising, the
This office offers cultural, personal and
The Center for Women and Gender offers
Multicultural Center for Academic Success
academic advising to international students.
relationship counseling, a 24-hour crisis
provides academic support while working to
They also provide some immigration services
hotline and advocacy for students facing
increase multicultural awareness.
and assist with getting on-campus jobs.
gender discrimination. A student can also seek
SAU-2300
SAU-2330
help for a sexual assault here without having to report the case to the university.
CPC-1760
STUDENT HEALTH CENTER
COUNSELING AND
PUBLIC SAFETY
PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES Offering immunizations, health services,
These are the people you’ll need if an
nutritional advice and some pharmaceutical services, this should be your first stop for all your health concerns.
A team of psychologists, psychiatrists and licensed therapists are available here to provide short-term individual and group counseling.
AUG-1100
emergency happens, if you file a sexual assault report or if you need security services.
GWH-1200
AUG-2100
Orientation 9
Reduce, Reuse, but ShouldYou
Recycle? by Karina Le | photography by Olivia Kaiser | design by Lauren Perttula
S
ay you’re eating at one of the many dining services RIT provides — Crossroads, for example. You’re eating a fish fry sandwich with a side of fries and you take it to go in a plastic container. Once you’re finished, you (hopefully) clean your area and go to throw away that little plastic container. Standing in front of the garbage bins, you see the recycling options for papers and plastics. Your container is plastic, you realize, so you dump your waste into recycling, leaving Crossroads with a sense of satisfaction. Congratulations, you’ve saved the world! But of course, recycling is a lot more complicated than that.
What’s Recyclable in the First Place?
In a Smithsonian magazine article, Robert Reed — a spokesperson for resource recovery company Recology — spoke about waste, recyclable or not. “All garbage goes somewhere; it does not go away,” Reed said. “So we must all take more responsibility to sort our discards into the proper bins.” Many people aren’t actually sure what distinguishes a recyclable item, such as a plastic container, from something that isn’t, such as a plastic bag. There’s also the concern
10 Orientation
about what state your item should be in when you recycle. Recycling isn’t just throwing the designated waste away. The process on our part is much more complicated. On RIT’s campus, there are two systems in place to combat garbage. There’s the single stream system, which is the system of recycling bins scattered around the campus, and the Ozzi system. The Ozzi system is unique in its use of reusable to-go containers, rather than disposable ones such as the aforementioned plastic containers. Especially for freshmen, this system allows diners to take out meals from Gracie’s, Sol’s Underground and Brick City Café using this green alternative.
The Complications
However, what really is the difference between the two recycling systems? Is one better than the other? The short answer is yes. Generally, the Ozzi system would be considered the better alternative in the larger scheme of things. The long answer, however, would be that recycling is rather nonproductive in its current form, as third year Fine Art Photography major Noah Winslow explained. “The state of recycling at RIT is the same as [any other college],” Winslow said. “There’s a lot of contamination in recycling. A lot of things that shouldn’t be put in recycling are put in there.”
Really, the focus should be on
reducing whatever students — or really anyone — throw away.
All garbage goes somewhere;
it does not go away.
Winslow currently serves as president of Student Environmental Action League and recycling coordinator for RIT. The contamination he references consist of any “non-recyclables [that] are placed in recycling,” as written in the Planet Blue project as part of the University of Michigan. Contamination would then include everything from food waste to plastic bags. Thus, when people in charge of recycling see the contaminated recyclable items, they have to send it all to the landfill. Basically, to properly recycle within the dining areas of RIT, you would have to clean these containers of any food residue. Even then, liquids are considered foodstuffs as part of the contamination of materials. Therefore, for someone who simply wants to throw away their items and go straight to class, recycling can be more of a commitment than what it seems to be. “Recycling is just way too complicated ... and single stream recycling isn’t really working,” explained Winslow. “Really, the focus should be on reducing whatever students — or really anyone — throw away.” The reduction of waste, as Winslow described it, is probably the best way for students to make a difference. Rather than
leaving it up to the student’s discretion what they decide to recycle, it’s just easier for both those who want to recycle and those who go through the recycled items to erase that choice entirely. This is where the Ozzi system comes in.
The Ozzi System
The Ozzi system is only for a limited number of dining areas around campus. RIT uses green lunchboxes that students don’t have to worry about buying themselves. Not only is the material completely green and recyclable, but it has the ability to keep food hot for longer periods of time and is even microwave safe. Students can also participate in the Ozzi system themselves by bringing their own thermos or silverware to dine with! Freshman students receive a token to exchange for this reusable container with the cashier in the dining areas the Ozzi system has been instated. Once the student returns the container, they can receive a new token. Though it will restrict a person’s dining options on campus, this is still the better choice if you want to try your hand at going green.
“It’s not easy to recycle — [or] to do it right at least — and it’s not even beneficial [the way it is now],” said Winslow. His statement is backed by the Scientific American article “Is Recycling Worth It?” that asks whether or not recycling is worth the effort. The recycling process is hindered by higher-than-necessary production costs due to the fact that people don’t properly sort recyclable items from the non-recyclable ones, as well as the contamination problems prevalent within this single stream system. On a college campus, there’s just not enough time to go through the process of getting rid of the contamination from your plastic containers before recycling. The whole process is entirely out of a student’s way, and there are extremely low chances that the decontamination process on the student end would be deemed acceptable by those overseeing the recycling. It’s simply easier for both parties to reuse items such as to-go Tupperware, focusing on the altogether reduction of waste rather than inefficient recycling.
Orientation 11
by Kevin Zampieron | illustration by Asher Bozman | design by Kevin Zampieron
I
t’s the beginning of your first year of college, and you’re ready to party your brains out. This new independence can be more intoxicating than the substances you’re consuming. It can also be dangerous if you don’t party safely. Reporter in no way condones underage drinking or the use of illegal substances; but, if you want to do those things, there’s no reason you shouldn’t do them in the safest way possible.
Understand consent. People can’t give informed, enthusiastic consent while intoxicated — alcohol significantly impairs judgement. Even if you think it’s going well, wait until your interest is sober before you try anything. If there are any mixed messages, then stop what you are doing, especially in a party setting.
Be smart about what’s going in your mouth. Before the party starts, pre-game with some food so you’re not partying on an empty stomach — that could get you too drunk too quickly. If you decide to drink, make sure you count your drinks — at most, you should be having two per hour. And never drink anything you didn’t pour yourself — not only do you not know how strong is, but it could be spiked.
Don’t mix substances without knowing how they interact. Mixing substances can have effects you’re not prepared for. For example, having alcohol in your system dramatically increases the level of THC you absorb when you ingest cannabis. You can go from buzzed to blacked out in a couple of hits, which could put you in dangerous situations if you’re not with friends. Mixing stimulants like amphetamines or cocaine with alcohol puts a dangerous level of stress on your cardiovascular system. If you really want to try any of these illicit substances, make sure to try them separately.
12 Orientation
Always use the buddy system.
Know your limits.
It’s more fun — and safe — to party with friends. Designate one of your friends as your party buddy so that they can keep an eye on you. Is a creepy dude not taking a hint? Call over your party buddy for backup. Did you accidentally get a bit too wasted? Your party buddy can help you get home, safe and sound.
I know you want to party hard, but nobody’s going to think you’re a badass when you’re puking your guts out into a bush. Or when you’re bedridden the next day, guzzling Gatorade and praying for death. Nobody’s going to think any less of you if you turn down that next drink, and even if they do, they probably won’t remember by tomorrow, anyway.
Have an exit strategy. Make sure you know how you’re getting home before you even get to the party. Don’t even think about driving while intoxicated, even if you feel dead sober; either have a designated driver or order a Lyft. Walking along dark Henrietta streets also puts you at risk, especially if you’re not sober.
Parties are a fun way to meet people and blow off steam, but it’s also important to take care of yourself and stay safe. Be smart, be kind and live to party another day.
Clean Space, Clear Mind
by Liz Peterson | photography by Natalie Whitton | design by Nancy Perez
M
oving onto campus for the first time is a big milestone. For some, you’ll be learning to share common space with complete strangers. For others, having to share with your siblings has prepared you for splitting a room with one, two or even three other people. Your dorm room should be as close to a sanctuary as it can get. This is the place you should be able to go and relax, have a friend or two over or be studious. Sometimes, though, there’s more stress associated with keeping your personal space up to standards. But relax — it’s your space for a reason. While the Association of Psychological Science will argue messy rooms aren’t all that bad, their studies have proven a clean room has long-term benefits. Not sure where to begin when it comes to keeping up with your space? No problem! Let me tell you the basics.
Do your laundry! You don’t need to do it every spare moment, but you really don’t want it taking over your room nor making your space reek. Let it collect for two weeks, max.
Keep things clean! Try tidying up if you notice your space is beginning to get a little hectic. I can’t tell you how often I’ve pulled a Taz the Tasmanian Devil trying to make my room look semidecent for people coming over.
Give everything a specific location! I can’t stress how beneficial it is for you to put stuff back where you normally keep it. You will never be questioning where things disappeared to if you put it in its designated spot. I know I personally have a mini panic attack if something’s not where I always leave it.
Storage is your friend! RIT unfortunately gives you limited space for your things. So keep around the tote you brought stuff to school in. Invest in one or two plastic drawers. Get storage crates and bins that match the color scheme of your
room. Also, what’s cool is a lot of storage can easily be moved into other storage.
Add a personal touch! Show off those photos of your friends and family. Bring some of your favorite video games. Accent your room with your favorite color. Nothing better helps your mental state than feeling at home, and not everyone can make the trek home whenever needed. Be sure you have a little piece of you to feel comfortable and to de-stress. Now, these might not work for every person. I know it took me a while to figure out how to keep everything in order. But give these a shot! You’ve got four or five years to adjust your own sense of organization. During my senior year, there were still times I would go back home, but for the opposite reason — my room had become too relaxed and comfy and I needed a place to focus. But you should never feel out of sorts in your dorm room.
Orientation 13
Orientation: by Marilyn Wolbert | illustration by Maliheh Rahrovan | design by Alyssa Minko
Let’s Do It Again! E
very August, thousands of students — nervous, excited and awestruck — flow onto RIT’s campus. They leave behind high school woes, crying parents and the blissful feeling of being debt free. What better way is there to welcome a bunch of terrified and confused young adults to the most socially-taxing time of their lives than to immediately throw them into a week of constant socialization? That’s right. Nothing.
Fitting In
Every August, students are welcomed wholeheartedly onto RIT’s campus by a group of upbeat, well-trained orientation leaders. Their
14 Orientation
primary goal? To help with the adjustment for each and every student that steps onto campus that week. The objective of New Student Orientation (NSO) is to provide a series of events, activities and opportunities to welcome new students and give them the information they need to succeed in their college years. As these are, for many, the most challenging days of their college careers, having the opportunity to socialize and create friendships through activities and communities on campus is needed in order to develop long-lasting relationships from the start. I’ve served as an orientation leader for the past two years and spoken to multiple new students that I worked with. They all said the same thing: orientation made them come out of their shells and take risks, things they
never would have done before without that community of people. Stone Colvin, a second year Mechanical Engineering student, spoke about his experience as a new student and how orientation affected him. “I went into it expecting to hate it — I don’t like meeting new people,” Colvin said. “But I ended up having a really good time and learning a lot.”
Icebreakers and Life-Savers
There is a method behind the ice-breaking madness. These ‘games’ do exactly that — they break the ice between the students involved. How? By taking each of them out of their comfort zones, allowing them to communicate and fostering connections between them; even if that connection is over how much they hate ice breakers! However, orientation leaders are trained for more than this. In fact, they go through a week of constant information sessions focused on all topics that concern new students and families, such as housing and dining, diversity, Deaf culture and Title IX. Those who work for NSO are equipped to handle almost any situation or question that may come their way — and, if they can’t, they know who can. Students are also given presentations on serious topics that may require debriefing afterward. NSO staff are always available to get through these tough issues with students and prepare them to effectively handle any situation that may arise during their time at RIT. The program is not built solely for first years, but also for international, transfer and graduate students. RIT does a great job in providing activities and learning opportunities during orientation week for all of these groups. Orientation brings incoming students into a new stage of life. The program gives them the help, guidance and confidence they need to survive the ups and downs of their college experience.
by Kevin Zampieron | illustration by Maliheh Rahrovan | design by Alyssa Minko The opinions expressed are solely those of the students and do not reflect the views of REPORTER.
Left Dis ori ente Y d our first few weeks of college can be a seriously rough adjustment — you’re moving away from home, you’re trying to figure out your new location and your stomach is acclimating to a diet of ramen and Gracie’s. It makes sense that universities put so much effort into their freshman orientations. Ideally, orientation should help your transition be as smooth as possible. But, for all of the activities, fairs and displays of orange, RIT’s New Student Orientation (NSO) doesn’t achieve its goal of helping all students transition into college life. For some students, orientation can be a nightmare.
(Not) Fitting In
My own freshman orientation was not a pleasant experience. Eighteen-year-old me was already feeling unsteady before orientation — the stress of being far from home had compounded my treasure trove of social phobias. I was not into icebreakers conducted by loud people in khaki shorts at that moment in time, to say the least. The intense, extroverted loudness that emanated from every activity was an enormous shock to me. If you’re not extroverted or into parties, it’s hard to feel like you belong during this hectic week. Orientation ended up pushing me further into my shell instead of bringing me out of it. If I didn’t fit in at orientation, I thought, maybe I would never fit in at all. And, while I eventually found my place, it took me a lot longer than a week to feel do so.
Icebreakers or Time-Wasters? I was far from the only one who didn’t enjoy orientation. Many people seemed eager to get those long, crowded presentations over with so they could get used to their new school
on their own terms. Freshmen, reckoning with their newfound independence, couldn’t find the communities where they fit in. I made all of my friends through classes, clubs and common interests. Instead of transitioning new students into their college life, orientation seemed to delay it for me. If the goal of orientation is actually to welcome the newest members of our community, it can’t be a one-size-fits-all, tiger-themed circus. It should be an ongoing relationship that focuses on building a support network for students transitioning into college. That’s not to say no improvements have been made; but, as long as orientation remains in its current form, there will be people who are left out. And being left out is a particularly hard experience at that stage of your life. If you like orientation, that’s great. But if you’re a newly-arrived first year who’s not enjoying NSO, don’t let it get to you. It’s okay if you’re not brimming with Tiger spirit or can’t seem to connect with anyone in your orientation group. Everyone’s transition into college is different, so try not to compare. Besides, you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone whose orientation experience was pivotal to their college years. If you feel like 18-year-old me, just tough it out and wait for school to begin for real. Until orientation becomes something more valuable to the student body — especially those who currently receive little benefit — it ultimately doesn’t matter in the end.
Orientation 15
REPORTER
Our meetings are open to the RIT community. We provide the free pizza, you provide the story ideas! Where: Campus Center A-730 When: Fridays at 5 p.m.