Meredith August 21,2002 Class of 2006 Volume XVIV, Issue 1 learns the “Elements of Excellence” Orientation 2002 introduces freshmen to new surroundings, prepares women for life at Meredith and beyond. “Elements of Excellence” combines new activities with old fora memorable orientation for ati. JONI SMITH Editor in Cliief Today commences a new semester for returning MerediA students and the first for the college’s newest class. Events this week centered around (Hientation, and several new changes to the usual move>in schedule. On Friday, Aug. 16 and Saturday, Aug. 17, fresh men commuter and resident students, respectively, ori> ented Aemselves wiA the campus and moved into the residence halls. ‘‘I was amazed when 1 first got onto campus,” said freshman Sarah Grey. “Eveiything was better than I thought it would be. The posters and smilii^ faces made the adjustment a bit easier.” The Aeme fc^ Orientation 2003 was “Elements of Excellence.” Co-directors of First Year Experience, Carolyn Koning and Chrissie Bumgardner, met with the orientation com mittee, which consisted of several faculty, staff and students, to develop the theme and expand on ideas to incorpcMate into orienta tion. Koning said one reason “Elements of Excellence” was chosen for the theme was because of the new math and science building that will be completed later this year. “Elements of Excellence” also parallels the science initiative Dr. Hartford announced last year. Over the next four days, the freshmen students did more than simply move in to the residence halls. This year, 72 student advisH^ helped these new Welcome signs adorned Meredith's campus Saturday as the dass of 2006 settled into ttieir new surroundings. PHOTO BY JONI SMITH students to plan schedules and to orient themselves wift tile ciQ' and campus. As the chief liason between the Acuity advisor and the student, the student advisor spends time answering questions, calming fears and giving a^ice. “There is a lot of time and effort tibat goes into cwienta- ticm. There are so many people who do a lot of behind tfw scenes work to make ^e job of student advisors easier,” said Sejal Patel, a senior student advisor. Bumgardner, who coordi nated much of the student advisors’ activities, said she was impressed with the “energy, attitudes and atten tion to detail” of this year’s student advising class. Some activities included in “Elements of Excellence” were similiar to those in previous orientations. “Orientation ran about the same as it usually does. It’s a veiy busy time that can get fhistrating,” said Patel. ORIENTATION cocftlnued on page 3 On the inside: Meetthenew Find out where to go for a Hear what researchers had to Vice rrcsidcfit for InsHtutloiial night out on the town In say about Meredith’s summer Advacnement Raleigh research program Page 2 5 Page 2