New students probably got a postcard in the mail about the New Student Orientation and Kick-off event that's happening on Thursday, August 28th starting at 6:00pm. New students who didn't get a postcard, or who didn't see or read the postcard, are still welcome. There is always a pretty decent (and not too long) presentation from a rep from Monster.com, and you get to meet the faculty, and this year they're having brats and burgers and all that stuff, and there are some really good "give-aways" and sign-up tables. All in all, it's a fairly painless way to break the ice before classes start.
But really somebody should come up with another word for it. We already get an "orientation" when we show up to register for classes during the summer. And "kick-off" seems like it should be followed immediately by a game. "Start - up" seems better suited with the Indy 500. And the academic expression "convocation" may be accurate, but, frankly, it sounds sort of off-putting for an event that is supposed set everybody at ease. At least they haven't started to call it:"boot up." (I would break into tears.) Any suggestions? "Welcome"?
