Induction provides warm welcome

Thousands of incoming freshmen filed into the rows of Assembly Hall Wednesday evening for IU's Freshman Induction Ceremony.\nAs the IU Brass Ensemble led the event with a prelude and processional, speeches were given by IU representatives including President Myles Brand, Chancellor and Vice President for Academic Affairs Sharon Brehm, Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Services Donald R. Hossler and IUSA president Bill Gray.\nWhile the brass quintet sounded as freshmen and their families filled the seats of the gym, students like Alex Noland shook hands with their new classmates.\n"I was offered to play video games tonight by my roommate, but I came here instead," said Noland, a freshman finance major from Dallas. "The school year's starting and this is another part of it. I'm really excited."\nBrand kicked off the ceremony with a welcome speech recounting his memories of the beginnings of his academic years.\n"I love the beginning of the school year [and] always got a thrill on the first day of class," Brand said. "I hope you share this anticipation for the new knowledge and experiences you will learn at IU. [We] do know how to have fun -- though in a different way than the media hype suggests," he joked.\nBrand described the immense diversity present on campus, from the students' various ethnic backgrounds to the many different cultural opportunities available. He emphasized the importance of students embracing others' differences and maintaining an open mind.\nBrehm followed the president, providing five tips "on how to survive and prosper your first year of college."\nShe told students to ask for help when necessary, get to know at least one professor, take advantage of the "enormous artistic and cultural resources on campus," get involved in at least one campus organization and learn about IU's "rich, complex and absolutely fascinating history."\nBrehm also addressed new students' concerns of stressful experiences that result from being new to the school and Bloomington's atmosphere.\n"Realize that your first semester won't last forever," she said.\nShe said she too is familiar with the anxiety that comes with being new to campus, since last year was her first on campus.\n"Based on my experiences, I urge you to begin by getting to know the University from the ground up. Your first great teacher on this campus will be the campus itself," Brehm said. "You can dream on this campus of the possibilities of a yet uncreated future."\nFollowing the ceremony, students and their families were invited to an induction picnic on the lawn of the Virgil T. DeVault Alumni Center. This provided everyone with yet another opportunity to get to know some of the new faces around them.\n"I thought it was wonderful," said Jill Florman of New York, whose daughter is also an incoming freshman. "[The ceremony] defined the University. It's like this is the beginning and everything else was just happening. It gave them the feeling that they can do and achieve anything."\nAs the many freshmen parted, they left with the overall message shared by President Brand.\n"The entire University community stands behind you," he said. "It is in the spirit of joy and celebration that we welcome the class of 2006. I'm delighted you are all here"