Orientation Closes with Gala at the Gallery

Photo by Chris Missiuna

New students Yuliya Dumanska, Natasha Jimeno, Alana Daley and Tim Carre dancing at the Orientation Finale in the Agnes Etherington Art Centre on September 14, 2007.

Queen's Law's newest students donned semi-formal attire and danced through the night in the Agnes Etherington Art Centre to mark the finale of this year's orientation on September 14, 2007.

A corn maze, a haunted walk, and a boat cruise were some of the events designed to help newcomers make friends, meet professors and discover Queen's University and Kingston.

"I made lots of great friends that I'm sure will last me a lifetime," said first-year student Paul Todd.

Students entering their first year in 2007 will graduate in 2010, the same year the winter Olympics will be held in Vancouver. In an Olympic-themed orientation, the new students were divided into teams to battle each other for medals in competitive events, including a sand sculpture contest and best "eighties" themed costumes.

At the gala, the winners of competitions that took place during the two week orientation were announced.

"I really liked the team aspect of the orientation," said Orientation Committee Chair Nick Staubitz, Law ‘09. "I thought the friendly competition really helped the small groups come together."

Paul agreed, noting the trip to Wolfe Island, where teams competed to win a homemade apple pie, was among his favourites.

Nick said the orientation week was truly successful. Most of the events went as planned without any noticeable problems.

The only downside was a weekend Olympic road trip to a beach which was cancelled because of rain, but most students in the orientation agreed it was nice to have a day to rest in advance of classes.

"I'm impressed with the enthusiasm of the class of 2010," said Nick. "They are willing to be silly. Sometimes you have to do that when you're a law student."