Colour and spirit: An O‑Week o‑verview

School spirit is an O-Week staple, and this year was no different. New Dalhousie students covered the campus from corner to corner, wearing T-shirts in the colour of their residence and earning supremacy points.

It was impossible to sit down without overhearing new students telling each other about the best donair joint in town, or where and when to get groceries with a student discount. In many ways, O-Week really showed a lot of the best things we have to offer as a school and as a city.

Fun at the Field Party. (Bruce Bottomley photo)

President Richard Florizone spoke to what our school has to offer at a quick but engaging induction ceremony on Tuesday. Dr. Florizone as well as DSU President Ramz Aziz noted the amazing choice these new students have made by coming to Dalhousie.

"This is a special community of scholars you’re joining," said Dr. Florizone. "In it, you’ll become part of a tradition of nearly two centuries of academic excellence, right here in this great city by the sea. It’s a place where you’ll be challenged, and you’ll get the opportunity to challenge ideas, theories, yourselves and one another."

Aziz spoke eloquently about keeping balance between school and the learning you do outside of the classroom. He added: “Don’t be afraid to fail. I’ve probably failed more than any of you and look where I am. Learn from every failure.”

Shine Day. (Danny Abriel photo)

But that wasn’t the only event this week that sought to introduce the new additions to our student body to our beautiful campus. Right from the very first day, students talked about what a wonderful, positive environment they were experiencing, and that continued through the week at the field party, Black & Gold Night, Dalympics, faculty orientations and (not to be forgotten) Shine Day. Events like these represent Dalhousie’s diverse interests and activiites, from social time, athletics, academics and philanthropy — really covering the gamete of what the Dal community has to offer. 

Hooking Up With Venus Envy was also an essential event for many of these new students. Three staff members from Halifax’ award-winning sex store and book shop, Venus Envy, came to speak to students about safe sex, consent, and how to have fun while incorporating these things. With such a focus in the media on rape culture on college campuses, Dal is showing that it takes these issues seriously by educating incoming students on how to be respectful of each other’s bodily autonomy.

Cutting the ribbon to officially open the Fountain School of Performing Arts. (Nick Pearce photo)

Faculty orientations on Tuesday morning served to bring together students with other freshman in their programs as well as the upper year students they would be seeing occasionally, and the staff and professors who would be supporting them throughout their education. The Fountain School of Performing Arts orientation (and official ribbon cutting) included commentary from the student society presidents, advisors, staff, and professors.

All week, “supremacy points” were counted all week as the various residences and halls competed against each other. Teams won points for participation in the O-Week events and at the end of the week, Eliza Ritchie Hall reigned supreme, having won both Dalympics and the overall competition.

O-Week was, all in all, a massive success that served to introduce a wonderful group of new Dalhousie students to our wonderful learning environment.

Finishing off the week at the rugby game. (Ali Seglins photo)

Rosalie Fralick is a second-year Bachelor of Music student and Dal News contributor.