Published by Communications and Public Affairs (519) 824-4120, Ext. 56982 or 53338
News Release
August 30, 2004
Music, food festival among highlights of Orientation Week
The University of Guelph will welcome thousands of new students to campus Sept. 5 to 11 with numerous activities and events. Highlights of Orientation Week include a new music and food festival, an exhibition of Aboriginal dance, a pep rally and a world record challenge.
The theme of this year’s Orientation Week is “Epic: est. 2004.” It’s intended to tie into the 40th anniversary of the university, the 35th anniversary of Interhall Council and the 10th anniversary of the “OV Boogie,” an annual orientation event, said Rachel Barreca, co-ordinator of student activities in the university’s student life and career services office.
“We want to encourage students to look back on history and to celebrate achievements,” Barreca said. “The theme also creates the idea of students starting their own ‘Epic: est. 2004' using knowledge from the past to achieve success in the future.”
Orientation Week begins Sept. 5 with student move-in day starting at 8 a.m. More than 4,000 students will be moving into residence with assistance from nearly 1,000 orientation volunteers, residence life staff and other student, staff and faculty volunteers. Gordon Street will be closed between Stone Road and College Avenue from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. to help alleviate traffic congestion.
At 8:30 p.m., a pep rally and the annual “OV Boogie” will be held on the field of Alumni Stadium. Celebrating its 10th year, the “OV Boogie” is a 10-minute choreographed dance performed by the 750 orientation volunteers. Representatives from each residence hall and the off-campus university students group also perform a three-minute boogie dance and compete for prizes.
On Sept. 6, students will gather on Johnston Green at 10:30 a.m. in an attempt to beat a Guinness World Record for the longest conga line. From 3:30 to 8:30 p.m., the Guelph Benefit, a food and music festival, will be held on Johnston Green. This new Orientation Week event features local restaurants serving food and band performances. There will also be live art, jugglers, break dancers and more. Proceeds will go to local charities.
On Sept. 7 the “Creative Native,” an aboriginal dance exhibition organized by the Aboriginal Resource Centre, begins at 3 p.m. at the north end of Johnston Green.
On Sept.11, the first annual “Guelph Bed Races” run from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. The event involves different student groups assembling a “bed” and racing around campus. The races will start on Branion Plaza. At 6 p.m., the week’s Closing Ceremonies will be held in Rozanski Hall and will include dinner, awards for notable students and volunteers and remarks by university and city officials.
For more information about Orientation Week, contact Barreca at (519) 824-4120, Ext. 52994.
Contact:
Rachel Barreca
Student Life & Career Services Office
(519) 824-4120, Ext. 52994
For media questions, contact Communications and Public Affairs: Lori Bona Hunt, (519) 824-4120, Ext. 53338, or Rachelle Cooper, Ext. 56982.
