Star Jean – Contributor 

Saturday, Aug. 30 marked the start of Orientation Week for all first-year students at Bishop’s, following the theme of Lennoxchella. New students were presented with a week-long schedule full of fun and engaging activities to help get them adjusted to their new lives on campus. Some of those activities were louder and more engaging than others, while some gave more time to relax, giving a wide variety of options to students to fit their vibe.

Photo courtesy of Kai Luginbuhl

While O-Week officially kicked off on Saturday, team registration began the following day. As our newest Gaiters sorted into their teams for the week, they prepared for all the exciting events that awaited them. According to Enzo, the SRC Director of Communication and Engagement, this year’s O-Week registration was extremely popular, with nearly 600 incoming students registering for a team. 

It’s hard to highlight just a few events from this week, since participation was high at most events. Some of the most popular events were the Quad Nights, which were held later at night. These nights were a huge success among students, getting their first exposure to university nightlife. Other successful events were the Paint & Sip night, with the visit of a professional mocktail bartender. Paint & Sip was considerably quieter than a Quad Night, allowing students looking for a low-key evening to enjoy themselves. 

Of course, this year’s Orientation Week wouldn’t have been the same without the annual welcome concert, which featured Lu Kala. This event was extended to Bishop’s students not participating in O-Week, and also to Champlain College students. Lu Kala created an amazing atmosphere for all concert-goers, making it an unforgettable experience and bringing an exciting close to the week of festivities.  

O-Week is essential to first-year students so they can meet new people, settle into their routine, and get a feel of both the campus and what’s close to campus. This year’s O-Week focused more on having their larger events earlier in the week before school started, and then having quieter events in the evenings after classes ended for the day. This schedule gave students a chance to attend activities, and also allowed them to focus on the beginning of classes and start their university careers on their feet, balancing work and play.  

O-Week was a great success, and we wish all the best to our new students as they start the semester with their new friends and fond memories from this orientation experience.