Dan DaranciangArtSci Summer Weekends, which allow incoming freshmen to register early while spending two days on campus, also help Wash. U.’s newest recruits develop skills essential to their academic life here. These skills include navigating the cluster system, using campus resources and planning for a major.
This summer, thanks to karaoke competitions at Ursa’s, the class of 2009 became well schooled in another skill vital to the college experience: belting out songs and performing impromptu choreography for the amusement of people they’d just met.
“I had to draw upon my early ’90s roots,” Eric Fleischaker said of his passionate performance of an Ace of Base hit during a June ArtSci Weekend. “I was raised on such classics as ‘The Sign.'”
While Fleischaker took the stage, his audience cheered him on from Ursa’s velvety armchairs as they mingled with their soon-to-be classmates.
“This weekend is one big icebreaker,” said Tyler Rhodes. “You get to have a weekend at college…When you visit the campus and go on the tour, you see what the school wants to portray, whereas when you’re here with the other students, you see what it’s actually about.”
Truly experiencing the independence that comes with attending college, however, would have to wait until the fall.
“Some of the rules are kind of ridiculous,” said Mary Ahmad, of the rules that ArtSci Weekend participants have to follow. Participants are not allowed inside dorms other than the one they are staying in, are not permitted to leave campus, and must wear their nametags at all times.
Still, Ahmad found the experience valuable overall.
“Meeting your advisor is the best part, definitely,” said Ahmad. “You get to meet them with your advising group, which is cool, because you know you’re going to see each other again in the fall.”
At a nearby table, junior Brian Ponton and sophomore Jon Chen, both R.A.s for the ArtSci Weekend program, were poring over a list of songs available for Chen’s karaoke performance. Although “sadly disappointed” that he had to settle for Enrique Iglesias’ “Hero” instead of his favorite song, Vanessa Carlton’s “1,000 Miles,” Chen was glad to be part of yet another ArtSci Weekend.
“I’ve been part of [ArtSci Weekends] multiple times unofficially,” said Chen. “I keep coming back because I like to get the freshmen pumped up for the coming year.”
After completing his duties as an ArtSci Weekend R.A., Ponton will continue bonding with Wash. U. newcomers as a freshman floor R.A.
“I miss the freshman floor atmosphere,” said Ponton. “As an upperclassman you don’t get that. That’s one of the reasons I’m going to be a freshman floor R.A. this year. I want to foster that same sense of community I remember from my freshman floor.”
Pamela Talley got a taste of dorm life during her weekend stay in Danforth. Prior to the karaoke competition, she and her temporary floor mates threw a “hallway party.”
“The dorms are massive, a lot bigger than at some other schools I visited,” said Talley. “I could have a Pilates session and invite a whole bunch of people to join me. I wasn’t expecting the dorms to be that big. And they’re very clean, too, and just super nice.”
What Talley is most looking forward to about life at Wash. U., however, are the experiences that will take place outside her dorm room.
“[College] will be a chance to explore new sides of myself,” said Talley. “And that’s in terms of the extracurriculars that I get involved in, classes, and the diverse people I know I’m going to meet here. It’s also a chance to get away from home.”
Equally ready to throw herself into life at Wash U was Jen Green, who has known for years that she wants to study history and archeology.
“I’m looking forward to the challenge,” said Green. “Finally, a challenge!”