Orientation gives students a head start

The first session of the Orientation Program is giving incoming freshmen a good outlook on their college career.\nOrientation started Tuesday with hundreds of students and parents following orientation leaders around campus and attending small individual lectures, tailored for their \nacademic interests.\nMany students anticipate their arrival at IU with enthusiasm, as the Orientation Program jump-started their introduction to college life.\nPolitical science professor Christine Barbour gave incoming students their first class lecture called Professor’s Perspective. Future students and their parents were able to get the experience hearing a lecture from a professor, as Barbour explained what she and other professors expect from their students.\n“College is not the same as high school,” she told the students. “Everything counts here. Don’t make messes in college.”\nBarbour encouraged the students to live responsibly, work hard and not to skip class.\nIncoming freshman Nicole Budzynski plans to major in business and said her orientation experience has been nothing but fun.\n“It’s been very good,” she said. “The leaders are very enthusiastic, and it’s fun to meet new people.”\nSome students, however, were getting a little impatient with the program.\n“It’s informative, but it’s very long,” said incoming freshman Steven Breiterman. “I learned a lot from the Web site, but this is reinforcing all of it.”\nParents walking through orientation with students said they felt comfortable with their children attending IU because of the “family forum,” during which parents were able to ask IU students questions about the campus.\nParent Nancy Bullinger said orientation was a vital program to attend with her daughter, Melissa. Unlike her daughter, Bullinger wasn’t able to look up information about IU through the Internet.\n“I’m old, so I don’t know much about browsing,” she laughed. “But I was glad to be able to ask questions to actual college kids.”\nThe orientation leaders are happy to welcome the future freshmen to the IU family. Orientation staff member Jeff London said he’s happy to meet the new students and teach them everything he knows.\n“I think we’re really making an impact,” he said. “It’s been fun.”