By Joseph Aubert – Economic & Business Editor

As this year’s incoming class was still moving into their residence rooms or apartments, on Sunday, Sept. 3, the campus was taken by storm with the launch of Wild Wild Lenn: the 2023 O-Week.

Each year, O-Week offers new BU students a vast array of fun activities to bond over, discover the campus and familiarize themselves with the tight-knit, continually growing community in Lennoxville. Wild Wild Lenn had a lot to offer the young Gaiters: a scavenger hunt, several concert bands and DJs in the quad, carnival games and a movie night in The Gait, to name a few.

Although the whole week is designed as a competition between different teams, victory is not what prevails during the seven days of orientation. What truly remains are the memories made, the foundations of new friendships that are developed and the acquired sense of belonging to the school. 

Kate Rumble, one of this year’s leaders, reminisced about her orientation week at Bishop’s in 2022: “[O-Week] is not all about drinking and partying. It is the start of a fresh new life, the beginning of the best four years of your life and the debut of many long-lasting friendships.” When reflecting on her experience as a leader, Rumble added, “Wild Wild Lenn has taught not only the first years but reminded the leaders and judges that Bishop’s is a loving community that will always be here for us. O-Week is truly the moment when all of us start bleeding purple.”

The Bishop’s University 2023 incoming class also became accustomed to the school’s values during their first week in Lennoxville. Activities like the bystander training and “Can I Kiss You?”, presented by renowned speaker Mike Respects, were opportunities for students to learn about respect and inclusivity. Bryn Empey, Wild Wild Lenn’s ‘Sheriff’ and SRC director of events, commented on the subject: “It was very important for us [the SRC] to ensure that all incoming students, especially those participating in orientation week, are equipped and have the opportunity to learn about consent culture and the Bishop’s values. Within hours of joining a team, students begin to learn and familiarize themselves with the topic as well as local resources. This allows all of our students to be on the same page on how to be respectful community members and the values of being a Gaiter.”

Wild Wild Lenn strived to welcome new BU students into their first week on campus and into their home for their next several years. O-Week is a staple of Bishop’s traditions, which has served and will continue to serve as a beautiful way to integrate new students into the community.