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2011 Orientation and Move In
The threat of Hurricane Irene may have altered plans slightly, but the 653 members of the class of 2015 didn’t miss a moment of the 2011 Orientation.
The Aug. 24 move in was painless, thanks to student volunteers who helped unload cars and carry belongings to the students’ rooms. Red Devil football player and volunteer Robert Spriggs ’14 also offered incoming students practical advice, such as how to arrange their furniture. “It’s comforting for the freshmen to know that there are students here who are willing to help them,” he said.
After settling into their residence halls, students bid farewell to their parents at an afternoon reception hosted by President William G. Durden ’71. The new students rounded out their first day on campus with the Dickinson College History Quiz Bowl Challenge and evening neighborhood events. [Story continues below.]
Busy schedule
What came next was a four-day whirlwind of workshops, seminars and social events. From Thursday through Saturday, the first years attended campus-life information sessions, met administrators, attended their First-Year Seminars and connected with classmates at pizza parties, the Red and White Banquet and the Multi-Organizational Board’s Night Out Carnival.
According to Orientation volunteer Elizabeth Meschio ’13, the busy schedule sets the pace for the four productive years ahead. “My advice to first years? Make the most of your time here. Get involved. Do everything,” she said.
Orientation culminated Aug. 28 with Convocation, held in the Anita Tuvin Schlechter Auditorium. The first years then processed to Old West, ascended its steps and signed in to the college.
Fresh start
As interesting and important as their first days on campus were, the first-year students were eager to start the academic year. Jessica Snyder of New Jersey, who plans to major in biology, couldn’t wait to hang out in the Rector Science Complex. Nick Cardelia of Virigina Beach expected to enjoy German classes most. Peter Glatz, a native of Poland who comes to Dickinson by way of Vienna, appreciated the opportunities that a small campus yields and was eager to get involved.
That sense of community appealed to Piper Moore of California. “I visited lots of colleges on the East Coast, and I selected Dickinson because the people were the most welcoming,” she said. Carson Koser of Atlanta agreed, adding that she already had befriended some of her classmates via the class of 2015’s Facebook page.
Standing in line to get her ID picture taken, Georgia Streitman of Pittsburgh said that although she was looking forward to making new friends, taking art-history classes and joining the Dance Theatre Group, the reality of this new chapter in her life hadn’t fully sunk in. “I visited the campus several times, and after all of that time, it’s still kind of unreal to actually, finally, be here,” she said.
Her classmates likely feel the same. But Rose and Chuck Leitner—who sent two daughters to college before driving their son Charlie to Dickinson this fall—said that when a student finds the perfect fit, they quickly get into the groove.
“We know Charlie is in the right place for him—a place where he will grow,” said Rose, adding that Charlie had attended lacrosse camps at several colleges before choosing Dickinson. “This is a launching pad, and we know he’ll have a great experience here.”
By MaryAlice Bitts Jackson
Photos by Carl Socolow ’77