O-Week gives students a taste of university life

The University of Queensland will be a hive of activity next week (February 16-20) as students sample the academic, sporting and social aspects of university life during Orientation Week.

Orientation Week coordinator Desley Andrew said the O-Week program had been revamped, returning to the traditional five-day format and making the transition to tertiary education easier for first-year students.

'The University is aware that first-year students can feel very alienated and alone, so we're increasing our efforts to make them feel welcome and trying to provide increased opportunities for them to meet new people and make new friends,' she said.

Welcoming initiatives include department-based social activities such as barbecues where new-comers can meet fellow students, and personal guides who will help students find their way around campus.

Ms Andrew said academic advisory and course information sessions would run for most of the week, but Wednesday would be devoted to a 'celebration of University life' with the ever-popular Market Day.

Bringing a festival atmosphere to the University's Great Court, Market Day will showcase Clubs and Societies with free bands, roving street theatre, rides and games and a free barbecue.

Students can try 'bouncy boxing' and arm wrestling or watch the aerobics displays and UQ Sports Store fashion parades.

Other activities include the UQ Union First Year film festival at the Schonell Theatre on Monday night and touch football, netball and indoor soccer at the UQ Sport Inter-faculty Challenge on Friday.

O-Week will end at the St Lucia campus with the Big Gig on Friday night, complete with bands including Custard and The Whitlams, a bar, free barbecue and Orientation Closing Ceremony in the natural amphitheatre.

Gatton campus O-Week activities will be held on Thursday, February 19 and Friday, February 20, with faculty barbecues, campus tours and course orientation sessions.

Highlights include Thursday's Gatton College Market Day with stalls, entertainment and sample bags and the 'Hats Boots and Boxers' Dance at the cricket oval on Thursday night.

For further information, contact Desley Andrew (telephone 3365 1678, facsimile 3365 1683 or email d.andrew@mailbox.uq.edu.au).