New Student Orientation 2008

by Patrick A. Rowe ‘09
Photo Galleries: Orientation & Matriculation | "Who Will Take the Hill" Games

Mladen Cvijanovic, Director of New Student Orientation and Intercultural Affairs

The 2008 New Student Orientation season started out with some uncertainties but nevertheless I had an ambitious goal to achieve.  I wanted this orientation to be informative, collective and most importantly, fun.  The season started with the arrival of a new Director of New Student Orientation, Mladen Cvijanovic ’08.  Dean Cvijanovic was my former RA in Venable and I was happy to be working with him. 

We set out with a goal to reform the orientation program.  Over the past years, the program had tried social events with Sweet Briar College as well as retreats to local camps for ice-breaker games and a cookout.  With the rising cost of fuel, and the idea that we might be able to do a little better, Dean M.C. and I, (with help from other members in Blake A), came up with the idea for campus events that would bring the Freshman class together.  We wanted to transform the orientation events from an obligatory necessity to a fun-filled time of friendship and rewards. 

My first task was to form a committee of good men to help with this venture.  I signed on a few hardworking friends from campus including Grant Hall ’09, R. Hunter Hopcroft ‘10, Jimmy Wood ’10 and Jordan Marshall ’11.  With the help of the committee and Blake A, Dean Cvijanovic and I tossed around a few ideas for the events.  We thought about having a band or some large-scale activities but we decided on smaller activities directed more towards having the new students communicate.  These activities included playing corn hole, basketball, field-goal kicking, volleyball, a scavenger hunt and campus and biology trivia.  All of this was planned in advance as we awaited the arrival of the freshmen. 

When that Saturday came, our campus was swarmed with wide-eyed young men and their families eager to start a new chapter.  The first few events of orientation were all traditional; the welcome, the Honor-Convocation and the “Hampden-Sydney Man” talk.  Then it was time to test out our new activities.  The freshman class was divided into their respected housing units (Carpenters, Cushing and White House) and they were given T-shirts as jerseys. 

The day started with an enthusiastic charge from Dean M.C. and the teams were asked “Who would take “The Hill”?”  With great vivaciousness the teams entered the football field ready to battle each other in the first event; Tug-O-War.  The three teams fought valiantly with cheers from their sides and plenty of members of the Hampden-Sydney College faculty.  It was apparent to me that this day would be a great success.

After Tug-O-War, they split up into their groups to take each other on in the aforementioned events.  After completing these, we all met at the pool for the Belly Flop contest.  All three teams sent 10 men to the board to do their best and there were some very good performances except for Dean M.C. whom, after some chanting, attempted a belly flop but failed miserably.  After the belly flops had finished, the class made their way to the Tiger Inn for two exciting eating events: hotdogs and mashed potatoes.  Many men rose to the challenge and their stomachs led them all to great finishes.  In the end Cushing Hall had taken “The Hill” and they were awarded T-shirts to wear with pride.

At the end of the day, the orientation was phenomenal.  The guys got to know each other and they had a great time doing it.  My goal was complete.  To this day, I hear freshman talk about how much fun they had that Monday.

I would like to thank the people that made this possible: Blake A, faculty and staff (especially those professors that helped), Aramark, Wal-Mart and Pizza Hut for donating to the cause, Dallas Christian of Tailgating Fanatic for the corn-hole boards, and the fitness center for letting us use the gym.  Most importantly I would like to thank Dean Cvijanovic, my committee and especially the RAs. Without your persistence and determination, orientation would not have been so great.  Thank you again.