[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/SOCS-WelcomeWk.jpg” caption=”Groups of student society representatives such as these members of SOCS (Society of Off-campus Students) will be wearing coloured suits denoting their alliance during Welcome Week. Photo courtesy: FYEO”]New McMaster students can find the first week of school a bit overwhelming. There is a lot to take in, from adjusting to roommates and life away from home to finding their way around campus and, hopefully, to a full schedule of new classes.

McMaster is helping ease the transition through several events and activities planned during Welcome Week from Sept. 2 to 13. Activities begin Labour Day weekend with the production of IRIS (Inspiration, Reflection, Integrity and Success), a First Year Experience drama production written, produced and performed by upper-year students.

Members of the IRIS cast. (L TO R): Monica Cairney, Jey Sivakumaran, Sid Murjani, Tina Pirkas, Katrina Piggott, Michelle Mah, Abby Sirisegaram, Suman Brar, Tanya Sitko Photo credit: Tyler Lane

The play, to be performed in front of almost 3,000 first-year students, welcomes new students to their first year by offering a glimpse of the opportunities and challenges they or their classmates, and roommates might encounter over the year ahead.

“We know lectures and conferences during Welcome Week don't work,” says Michele Corbeil, coordinator, First Year Transition. “What we do know is drama is a very powerful way to educate students without it being in a lecture and being talked at.”

Written, produced and directed by current McMaster students, in consultation with Student Affairs and academic departments, IRIS uses drama, humour, multimedia and music to explore academic issues such as academic integrity, time and stress management, effective study strategies and seeking assistance from TAs, professors and campus resources such as the Centre for Student Development. In addition, themes of a more personal nature are addressed, such as health and wellness, safety and security and personal choices with respect to sex, drugs and alcohol.

The vignettes and personal monologues were written over the summer by the cast and reviewed by various student affairs coordinators and managers, other campus partners as well as key people in several academic program offices. Using fictional vignettes, personal monologues, interactive theatre and multimedia, the piece represents some common experiences and possible anxieties of first-year students as they embark on their post-secondary path.

Eight shows will be presented between Aug. 31 and Sept. 9 in MDCL, Room 1305. IRIS shows will take place over the Labour Day weekend with a final performance for International Students to be presented on Sept. 9 in the CIBC Banquet Hall. See the Welcome Week schedule for 2006.

Several other activities during Welcome Week are planned to help students adjust to university life.

Across campus, groups of students, staff and faculty will aid new students in finding their place within their particular student organization, department or faculty.

On Tuesday, Sept. 5, students will be organized by their respective faculty groups to participate in community and team-building activities organized by the Student Faculty Societies. At 4 p.m., there will be a McMaster Faculty Welcome, hosted by President Peter George and dean of students Phil Wood, who will address the first-year class.

Other activities designed to help students feel connected to their new community include traditional concerts, Clubsfest, the P.J. Parade and Airbands, all of which were organized by the McMaster Students' Union. Residence student leaders and SOCS (Society of Off-Campus Students) will also organize events such the IRC bed races, team-building activities and Block Parties. The “Mac Connector” on Sunday, Sept. 3 will help celebrate the opening of the new Alumni Field with an aerial photograph to be taken of the entire first-year class forming “2010” on the field. Together, all these activities and more will contribute to a great start for this year's first-year students.

Prelude to Mac is an online initiative offered by the First Year Experience Office (FYEO). It is an orientation program designed to get new students familiar with McMaster's campus, student resources and people, months before they set foot on campus. The website, which is organized around weekly themes, features videos, information and message boards. After the close of Welcome Week, FYEO will organize a “meet 'n' greet” for those who have logged on to the Prelude site and participated in the message board.

Corbeil says Welcome Week is crucial in preparing students for the year ahead. “It connects students overall to the university,” she says. “One of the goals of Welcome Week is to let students know that no matter where you come from, whether it's from a big city, a small town, across the world, Vancouver or PEI, you belong at McMaster.”