Our View

Whether you’re a student entering a foreign world, or anadministrator trying to make 400 students feel at home, freshmanyear is no picnic. Transferring someone from a comfortableenvironment to an unknown ecosystem, especially at an age wherepersonal identity is just blossoming, is no task for the weak atheart. We commend Simpson for its attention to detail for itssensitive newcomers.

But, at the same time, a common complaint amongst freshmenstudents is that Simpson tries too hard to keep them busy in thefirst week of school, inevitably making students feel like they’reback in high school. It is essential for Simpson to play a roleearly in the lives of young students. But, it must not try toohard, for fear of making mature 18 and 19-year-olds feel likethey’re not independent college students.

Campus life should follow the lead of our Greek community thathas chosen to hold off on recruitment until September 24. Bywaiting a few weeks, Greeks will give students a chance to besettled before deciding to pledge. This, in turn, should yield abetter success rate for Greek recruitment by making students lessoverwhelmed upon joining the campus.

Simpson should spread out its first-week activities into thefirst month. Shaking the president’s hand, eating ice cream at hishouse, and even the Stand around are all things that would beequally, if not more, successfully utilized later.