<
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/feb/19/university-o-weeks-orientation-week-usyd-anu-monash>
"Couch burning. Tricycle races. Beer-skolling marathons. For decades,
orientation week – or O-Week – has gone hand in hand with boozing to unhealthy
excess and residential college hazing.
But with drinking rates on the decline, especially among young people – and a
cultural shift towards calling out poor behaviour – the orientation to tertiary
life has become a much more wholesome affair.
At the University of Sydney’s Welcome Week on Tuesday, undergraduate students
make friendship bracelets beside snaking lines of enthusiastic youth waiting
for sponsored products.
Sascha Zarins, Sophia Duncan and Charley Bertwistle are seeking four things at
orientation – “meeting people, joining societies, networking and getting free
stuff”.
The trio met here and are buzzing to socialise.
“We joined the Random Acts of Kindness Club and the Ski Club,” Zarins says.
“I’ve never skied before but thought, why not join?”
Coming from interstate, Zarins says orientation is crucial to “not be lonely in
Sydney”. While drinking is still “a big part” of the week, this is the time to
make lifelong friends."
The kids are alright.
Share and enjoy,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
