by Patrick A. Rowe ‘09

The 2008 New Student Orientation started out with some uncertainties. Nevertheless we had an ambitious goal.  We wanted this orientation to be informative, collective, and, most important, fun.  The academic year started with the arrival of a new Director of New Student Orientation, Mladen Cvijanovic ’08.  Mr. Cvijanovic was my former RA in Venable Hall, and I was happy to be working with him again.

We set out to reform the orientation program.  Over the past years, the program had tried social events with Sweet Briar College as well as retreats to local camps for ice-breaker games and cookouts.  With the rising cost of fuel and the belief that we might be able to do a little better, Mr. Cvijanovic and I, with help from other members of the Dean of Students staff, came up with ideas for campus events that would bring the freshman class together.  We wanted to transform orientation from an obligatory necessity to a fun-filled time of friendship and rewards.

My first task was to form a committee to help with this venture.  I signed on a few hardworking friends from campus including Grant Hall ’09, R. Hunter Hopcroft ’10, Jimmy Wood ’10 and Jordan Marshall ’11.  With the help of the committee and the Dean of Students Office,  Mr. Cvijanovic and I explored ideas for the events. We thought about having a band or some other large-scale activity but we decided on smaller activities directed at having the new students interact and communicate.  These activities included playing corn hole, basketball, and volleyball, field-goal kicking, a scavenger hunt, and campus and biology trivia.  All of this was planned in advance as we awaited the arrival of the freshman.

When that Saturday came, our campus was swarmed with wide-eyed young men and their families eager to start a new chapter in their lives.  The first few events of orientation were all traditional, the welcome, the Honor Convocation, and the “Hampden-Sydney Man” talk.  Then it was time to test out our new activities.  The freshman class was divided into their respective housing units (Carpenters, Cushing, and White House), and they were given T-shirts as jerseys.

The day started with an enthusiastic charge from Mr. Cvijanovic, and the teams were asked, “Who would take The Hill?”  With great enthusiasm the teams gathered beside the football field ready to battle each other in the first event, the tug of war.  The three teams fought valiantly with cheers from their sides and plenty of members of the Hampden-Sydney College staff.  It was apparent to me that this day would be a great success.

After the tug of war, the freshman took each other on in the other field events.  After completing these, everyone met at the pool for the belly flop contest.  Each team sent ten men to the board to do their best, and there were some very good performances except for Mr. Cvijanovic who attempted a belly flop but failed miserably.  The class then made their way to the terrace outside the Tiger Inn for two exciting eating contests, hotdogs and mashed potatoes.  Many men rose to the challenge and their stomachs led them all to great finishes.  In the end Cushing Hall took The Hill, and they were awarded special T-shirts to wear with pride.

At the end of the day, the orientation had been phenomenal.  The guys got to know each other, and they had a great time doing it.  Our goal was accomplished. To this day, I hear freshman talk about how much fun they had that Monday. I would like to thank the faculty and staff who made this possible as well as ARAMARK, Wal-Mart, and Pizza Hut for donating to the cause.  Most important I would like to thank Mr. Cvijanovic, my committee, and, especially, the RAs. Without your persistence and determination, orientation would not have been so great.