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| New freshmen adjust
through Orientation |
by
Jessica Hines
Associate Editor |
Jessica Hines | The Appalachian
Incoming freshmen (clockwise
from the top) Sara Beaujean, Holly Compton, Rachel Pence,
Julie Duke and Elizabeth Merton discuss the fall semester
over lunch Tuesday in Cascades Cafe in Plemmons Student
Union. They said they are excited about attending Appalachian.
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With
high school a recent memory and college around the corner,
many incoming Appalachian State University freshmen find Phase
One Orientation a time for ironing out the wrinkles and answering
questions.
From parking to classes, roommates to meal cards, the questions
are endless from fledgling Mountaineers.
Getting around campus presents the biggest problem for many
new students.
Holly Compton, an incoming freshman from Swansboro, said maneuvering
campus was a problem for her.
She said she was glad her peer leader and advisor allowed
her group free time to get to know the campus without guidance.
“They let us get out on our own,” she said Tuesday.
“It’s good that they gave us free time. It makes
you get to know campus.” |
Brian Greuling, of Charlotte, said he was given two hours
to “figure out campus,” and he feels confident about
his knowledge of the campus after his free time.
Greuling said he has learned many new things from the first
phase of Orientation, including his intended major.
“We had departmental meetings yesterday,” he said
Tuesday. “I decided to change my major after the meeting.”
Born in Chicago, Greuling said he is not nervous about the
fall, and is looking forward to the winter.
Compton and her friends said they are nervous about the upcoming
semester for various reasons.
Compton said she is anxious about classes.
She said she was unable to get into many art classes needed
for her expected art education degree.
“I didn’t know about a portfolio until I got here,”
she said. “There are two classes I need and can’t
get into. My advisor told me they had been full for a while.”
Elizabeth Merton, of Greensboro, said she is nervous about
living in Eggers Residence Hall with her new roommate.
Merton said she had many questions regarding the size and
setup of her future room in Eggers. She said she wanted to
see her room so she could plan what to pack.
“I’m nervous because I feel out of my element,”
Sara Beaujean, of Swansboro, said Tuesday. “I’m
used to beach weather with humidity and heat. Here there are
so many stairs and mountains.”
“Everything is vertical,” Compton said. “I’m
used to sand dunes and flat land.”
Beaujean said orientation has been interesting, mainly because
of a streaker she and her friends saw at Hawksbill Game Room.
She said a group of guys gathered around the entrance and
when she and her friends went to see what was going on, a
naked man ran out of the crowd.
“This guy started running holding his junk,” Compton
said. “It was definitely interesting.”
Rachel Pence, of Salisbury, said she also enjoyed Orientation.
She said her favorite part was Risque Business.
“If my mom knew I saw them putting a condom on a banana,”
Pence said as she trailed off into thought.
Compton and Greuling said Orientation provided a lot of information,
but Compton said she feels there are still many unanswered
questions.
“[Orientation] has been very repetitious,” Pence
said. “They tell us the same thing over and over, and
leave out other things.”
Among the most repetitive messages, Pence said she was told
the importance of homework and attendance the most.
“They told me being a student is a full-time job,”
she said. “They kept saying ‘go to class,’
‘go to class,’ ‘go to class.’”
Despite unanswered questions and anxiety, Compton, Greuling,
Pence, Merton and Beaujean said they are excited about the
fall semester.
“I’m ready to get away from the hot weather,”
Beaujean said.
“I fell in love with campus the first time I saw it,”
Merton said. “I used to live in the mountains, and I
can’t wait to be up here.” |
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