By Meryl Roche
With approximately one month of training behind them, it will be up to 30 students to introduce the class of 2009 and any transfer students to Northeastern this summer.
Beginning June 14, Orientation Leaders (OLs) will welcome incoming freshmen at eight two-day sessions and transfer students at three one-day sessions.
While the group is made up of students from different years and majors, Justine Medina, a sophomore political science and economics major, said the 30 OLs are “prepared to work together as a team.”
This year’s OLs represent areas from all over the country, including states such as Colorado, Florida and California, and one international student from Puerto Rico.
“We have every type of personality and background represented in our program,” said Michelle Guobadia, a graduate student at North Carolina State University and a National Orientation Director Association intern. “I give kudos to whoever did the hiring because these students are doing an awesome job.”
Guobadia was an OL at the University of Delaware, where she completed her undergraduate degree. Of the orientation program at NU, Guobadia said, “I’m ready because they’re ready. They’re well trained, they’re excited and they’re ready to go.”
In addition to the usual orientation line-up including a welcome speech from President Richard Freeland and break-out sessions with group leaders, this year’s freshmen will view a DVD created by the OLs entitled “The NU.”
The DVD will take the place of skits the OLs used to perform live for new students.
Beth Rosenbleet, associate director of the new student orientation and parent programs, said the informational video is meant to answer students’ questions on issues that may not be discussed in other places. Subjects on the DVD are ones that students may not have had to deal with before college life, such as adjustment to leaving home, money management, sexual harassment and underaged drinking.
“The video is a huge time investment up front between writing and filming and we’ve yet to see the fruits of our labor,” Rosenbleet said. “If it goes well this summer, we’ll definitely consider doing it in the future.”
Rosenbleet said a structured discussion about these topics is now going to be presented on PowerPoint, with students and staff available to answer questions.
In addition to the DVD, another new aspect of this year’s program is a presentation on co-op. The seminar, titled “On the Path to Cooperative Education,” consists of a panel of upperclassmen.
Samantha Sang, a sophomore undecided major and a native of Guayanabo, Puerto Rico, said she is excited to share her experiences at Northeastern with incoming students.
“I want to have a great impact on students coming into the school,” Sang said.
