Abolish New Student Orientation

The Facts: New Student Orientation is intended to welcome incoming students to the University. Over the years, the program has developed into a redundant expense that only acts as a day of registration for the newest members of the Wolfpack community. The program's expenses will only continue to rise as the campus population grows, creating lingering questions about its viability and necessity.

Our Opinion: New Student Orientation has taken a dramatic turn for the worse. Its primary purposes -- to welcome and register incoming students -- can easily be accomplished without dedicated days during the summer.

The changes in New Student Orientation over the years, have, for the most, added nothing to what was already a deficient program.

Seniors will undoubtedly recall the humiliating experience of carrying around the world's ugliest tote bag during two grueling days in Raleigh's blistering summer heat.

For our newest classmates, the experience has been markedly improved with a "more condensed" schedule and advanced pamphlet-carrying device.

In reality, the new orientation is simply a half a day less of misery during student's first freshman experience, and needs to be thoroughly altered or abolished.

Orientation's primary purpose is to welcome new students into the Wolfpack community and allow them to connect to other students.

In the words of Gabe Wical, director of New Student Orientation, the experience is to make incoming students feel as though "they aren't just one of 4,800."

This sentiment would be lovely if the University wasn't in the midst of the worst budget crisis in its history.

Through students' experiences with the Wolfpack community during their freshman year, they will realize that this is a remarkably supportive and welcoming community, despite its size. Students spend four years -- often more -- at this University creating a support network and making lasting connections. It is foolish for University officials to take our precious budget and spend it on giving incoming students one extra day to develop these bonds.

Alternatively, this day and a half of "orientation" could be implemented during the start of the year when dorms are open but classes have not yet begun. Students would have the same opportunities to explore campus and go to information fairs without the additional costs to the University's budget.

Wical said he was worried that students would not get information about University activities and organizations, adding that under the system in place now,"[the University] can make sure students are hearing the message we want."

This would seem to be a fairly counter-intuitive idea. Part of the University experience is developing ideas about your own beliefs and ideals -- organizations, clubs and activities are a part of this enculturation. A fair at the start of the school year could open students up to the available options without forcing those groups upon them.

Some would -- and with good reason -- worry about students' ability to register for classes without orientation. However, students should be able to register on their own time with adequate Web tools and support services to enable the process.

Orientation is a product of excess. Under a normal budgetary climate it was wasteful, but unnoticed. The problem is that these aren't normal times -- the system is improvident and must be either amended or outright abolished.