Alcalá 1987

ORIENTATION

It was September1,1986; the firstday of our lives here at USD, a day we will remember forever. A day with 800 new faces, 1600 parents, 4000 boxes and 22,000 goals and dreams. For many people across America this was just Labor Day, but to 800new students at USDitwas the beginning of their college lives. The first week of college wasnot all we thought it would be. Also knownas Orientation Week, there were no tensions, homework, boring professors or library visits.The first week was more like a carnival, with a lot of fun and new friends. Any bystander watchingprob­ ably couldnot have distinguishedany of the new college students from kinder- gartners. The week's events included square dancing, where you bowed to your partner then to your corner perpetually for three hours. There was also Sea World, where we were graced with a performance by Shamu the Killer Whale, then danced the night away in a more progressive fashion. Sports day came next. Have you ever seen hundreds of18 year olds roll on top of each other on a football field? Or carry each other across the field as an amoeba? Other activities included a

The hulawas partof the hooplaon Luau Night.

trip to the SanDiego Zoo,a Charger's game, a sand castle contest, a Hawaiian Luau,Club Day,and the mass of festivities were topped offwith a mass in Founders Chapel. To the religiousor the non-religious, the students mass is a warming experience that makes you feel more at home. Many newfriends weremade, a lot of

eating and drinking was done, and threat of the "Freshmen Fifteen" (extrc weight traditionally gained in the fT few weeks of the year) became reality. Last but not least, there was of waiting in lines!Allof these thingscc tributed to a great Orientation wee> and the start of a terrific schoolyear

26 Activites