Finding their way through campus

The first day of classes has come and gone, and that first day apprehension for freshmen students has subsided. \nMostly. \nSome new Hoosiers are still feeling anxious about starting a new year, getting lost and finding those life-long friends.\nReactions to the first day of the 2002-03 school year ranged from being upset that classes were held on Labor Day, to being satisfied with the way things went.\n"I was late for one of my classes," freshman Brandon Kleinman said. "And I'm not really happy about them holding class on Labor Day."\nKleinman lives in McNutt and expressed concern about the distance he has to walk to arrive to class on time.\n"All of my classes are so far away -- like in the Education Building and Rawles," he said. "I know that if I get lost, though, I can just ask anyone walking. I won't go too far out of my way though to ask for help."\nUnlike Kleinman, freshman Steffanie Feuer was optimistic about her first day as an IU student.\n"I found all of my classes," Feuer said. "I didn't get lost at all. I'm living in Collins and the people here are cool about helping out.\n"I've talked with my RA and I went around campus last week with my friends to get to know where things are. We ran into some professors and they're all really eager to help us," she said.\nSenior Duncan Baumgart said his reactions to his first days as a freshman were similar. \n"I felt completely lost because I had never been to Indiana before I came to school here," he said. "I didn't know where anything was or who anyone was."\nBaumgart said he alleviated his first-day disorientation by mapping out the entire campus on rollerblades. \nFreshman Lindsey Brown said her first day of class went well despite her initially feeling overwhelmed.\n"I walked into my first class. It was a big lecture and I sat in the very front," she said. "They handed out the syllabus and we went through the normal routine of the first day of class. Afterward, I actually introduced myself to my professor because she's a health teacher, and that's my major."\nAs far as getting involved on campus, Baumgart said it's important to talk to others about what's available.\n"I picked my RA's brain about what the cool stuff to do at this place was. I think one of my main fears of coming here was how to get around and still be involved in stuff. Just ask around, someone will help," he said.\nBrown said she plans on rushing a sorority and going to the SRSC to take part in exercise classes.\n"At first it's hard to get involved," Brown said. "One of the first things I had to do when I got here was find my niche, and I think I've found it."\nThe IU Office of Orientation Programs has many activities available for students to get involved in as a way to become familiarized with campus and meet new people.\nIUBeginnings, a program through the office, provides three different avenues of activities. Outdoor Education and Leadership, Community Plunge and Wilderness Experience are all ways in which students can hone their leadership skills and get involved in the community. Other activities on campus include the more than 400 student organizations and students can also utilize the fitness facilities located at the SRSC and HPER.