Freshmen inducted at IU Auditorium

Thousands of students waited quietly in the IU Auditorium Wednesday afternoon. With many just arriving on campus hours beforehand, they were about to officially welcomed into the IU family. \nThe 74-year tradition has been bringing students and their parents in from the heat and giving them insight on what they might encounter in the next few years of their lives.\nDuring his introduction, IU President Michael McRobbie encouraged students to reach their full potential as students and members of society in the coming years. Through his thick Australian accent, McRobbie received a roaring applause when he stated “I may be an Australian by birth, but I am a Hoosier by choice.”\nIU Student Association President W.T. Wright welcomed the freshmen by reflecting on some moments from his own freshman induction ceremony. Wright encouraged students to be proactive and to get involved in campus activities rather than sitting on their futon and watching movies all day. \n“Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life,” quoted Wright, bringing some laughter to the very quiet and focused auditorium crowd.\nEach student received a small IU pin and was asked to keep that pin and wear it at the induction and also to wear it at their graduation ceremony.\n“I think the pin is a great idea” said James Highbaugh, a freshman from Indianapolis. “I think it’s great to be a part of a new tradition and it will be interesting to see if students can keep the pins and follow through to graduation.” \nAs the official induction of the 2011 class was given by Provost Karen Hanson, the crowd was asked to stand and sing “Hail to Old IU,” led by Rainelle Bumbaugh, the ceremony’s student representative from the Jacobs School of Music. \nDale and Terri Mirrow came to the ceremony with their son Ryan and thought that it was a great kickoff to their son’s college career.\n“We thought it was a great ceremony, we liked how they stressed academics and opportunities in their message, whereas other colleges and universities stress clubs you can join and activities you can get involved with” said Terri Mirrow.\nFreshman Makenzie Johnson and his mother Tammy said they were not surprised by IU’s welcome address.\n“I am not much on ceremonies,” Makenzie Johnson said. “I had a good idea of what it would be like before we came in, so it was pretty much what I expected.”