Editorials
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Orientation Methods Questioned
by Susan Cheshire
For the first time since my
years at Salem, I participated
in Freshman Orientation this
fall as a peer adviser. From my
observations and from my
thoughts about my own
experience as a freshman, I
have come to beleive that as it
is now being implemented, our
Orientation program may be
more detrimental than
beneficial to the youngest
members of the Salem family. I
realize the necessity of an
orientation process and feel
that your knowledge of the
difficulties with our present
program will aid in the
prevention and eleviation of
such problems in the future.
The main problem, as I see it.
is length, from which several
other problems stem. As
compared to many colleges and
universities, our orientation
schedule is quite lengthy. I am
aware that this is designed to
give the incoming students
sufficient time to settle into
Salem life and adjust to the
shock of leaving home before
the shock of starting classes;
however, I believe that many
other harmful things are
happening during these four
days, as well.
First of all, the period of
time alloted for orientation is
so long that there are many
hours of free time each day.
Though they are designed for
rest, moving in, or getting to
know one's neighbors, often
times these hours are used to
Speaking To The Alumnae
by Ginger Saunders
As President of SGA one of
the privledges I have enjoyed
this year was speaking to the
Alumnae Leadership
Conference last Wednesday. I
was asked by Mary Dameron
Holderness, President of the
Alumnae Association, to
address several questions. The
first question she wanted
addressed was "What do I
think makes Salem unique?"
Secondly, she wanted me to lay
out what I perceived as the
concerns of the current
residential students. Finally, I
gave some time to the thought
of what I thought Salem gave
to her students. So, what you
read before you today is an
abridged version of the talk I
presented that day.
It's 8:30 in the morning, and
another day dawns across the
Salem campus. Everywhere
students are rolling out of bed
and into the closest dirty
clothes on the floor. A quick
glance in the mirror reveals
that a shower is in need, but it
gets put off until after lunch.
This is Salem College.
There is a special something
here that very few students can
explain. I have often found
myself in discussions among
friends wherein we attempt to
determine what exactly it is
that sets Salem apart from
other colleges and universities.
To me, there seems to be an
atmosphere here that promotes
individuality and
assertiveness. In some ways,
this individuality and
assertiveness flows from a
feeling that Salem students can
actively shape their
educational experience here.
Whether it be in academics or
athletics, Salem students take
full advantage of available
opportunities and create new
ones if specific opportunities
are not offered. For instance,
the January Term allows
students much flexibility in
creating unique internship
experiences. A current senior is
a good illustration of this.
During a Jan. Term she decided
some field of medical research
was what she wanted to
explore. She designed a
program whereby she studied a
particular viral strain on
village children in the
Bahamas. Other students, in
the academic arena have opted
for self-designed or double
majors as productive ways to
enhance the curricula offered.
In terms of student life
outside the world of the
classroom, the sense of
creativity and individualism is
also apparent. My philosopy
here is if Salem doesn't have
Cont. page 10
become homesick, depressed,
and discouraged about life here
at the College. Even with the
day packed full of lectures and
meetings, there are still hours
upon hours when there is
nothing for the student to do
except to begin to dislike her
new home.
Next, regardless of what is
done to enliven the programs,
most are uninteresting and
uninformative. It seems that
the seminars and discussions
were devised simply to use up
some of the copious free time
during the schedule. Many
freshmen become bored and
restless and fail to attend these
programs, leading to more free
time and more problems.
Obviously, many events are
crucial to daily life at Salem,
while others could be held just
as effectively after the start of
classes.
Lastly, the experience
offered to the freshman class
leads to an altered view of
what life at Salem is like.
Required attendance at
meetings and someone to make
sure the schedule is followed is
not an example of college-level
life anywhere. Curfews are not
enforced during the academic
year, nor are one's actions
watched as closely as during
orientation. The hand-holding
and coddling given to the
freshmen is welcome at first,
but life at Salem is not even
akin to the life many become
used to during the four days of
"summer camp."
I am aware that orientation
is essential to making life at
Salem successful; however, I
believe it can be done more
efficiently and in a manner
more fitting to Salem. My
request is this: that you and
the Orientation Committee
consider revising the schedule
for next fall. I realize that
there are some problems
inherent in trying to organize
such an event as this, but
college is a time of personal
freedom, of choices,of options.
Let our orientation process
reflect this.
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