This year, SMU eliminated the traditional Week of Welcome for incoming students, creating virtually one day between Mustang Corral and the first day of classes.
Although Mustang Corral gives students a chance to meet other first years, leaving this as the sole planned social interaction deletes the much-needed camaraderie that has been present in years past. The new calendar resulted in a lack-luster and short list of events for first years in the first few weeks of school.
The Mustang Corral experience is somewhat off-key to the rest of the college experience. Students are here to begin their dorm and academic life, not to go back to seventh grade summer camp. Those in charge of the activities need to realize that we can make friends on our own in a relaxed situation, as well as forced group activities.
Sophomores, juniors and seniors that got to experience Week of Welcome are evidence of this. Students could go out to lunch or evening activities together with, or without, their WoW leader. This created a relaxed experience and a bond that lasted throughout the semester.
This year’s first-year class had a strong bond going into the first week of classes, but it quickly died as the activities available to them dwindled away and they had to find their own path. In previous years, fraternity open houses and guest comedians provided quality entertainment and involvement for incoming students.
Although, it is not necessarily true that there aren’t any activities to attend as the school year begins. The office of New Student Programs offers the Encore series of lectures, but they are not publicized. Many of the lectures do not attract a wide range of first years because of the connotation of a lecture, and the underlying life lesson themes. The activities that the school provides in the first semester should promote a social bond between students, not teach us about life – that’s what actual classes are for.
Without an ongoing calendar of events for new students to follow, they are left with a dry and very individualized student experience, instead of an authentic Mustang experience.
