Spring Orientation 2000

On Sunday, January 23rd, Yeshiva University welcomed over 100 new members to its ever expanding student body. To help make the often intimidating registration process as hastle-free as possible, a detailed and well organized Spring Orientation program was created. Brochures listing all the days events and pertinent information needed to help the students were distributed to all new arrivals on campus.

Andrew Leibowitz, Coordinator of Student Services on campus, said, "This year's Spring Orientation ran more efficiently than in years past, in no small part due to the care and consideration put into the constructing of the hectic orientation schedule."

The Orientation Luncheon, provided by Food Services, served as the official opening event. A beautiful buffet lunch was displayed and while the new students weren't devouring the free food, they had the opportunity to meet the deans of Sy Syms, Yeshiva College, and Student Services. Yalli Hakalier, a proud new member of the Sy Syms School of Business, remarked that the luncheon was a terrific way to begin his college career, and that he "is looking forward to more free food and personal attention in the future."

The main focus of the orientation was to familiarize the incoming students, many of whom have recently returned from schools in Israel, with their new Yeshiva. In this vein, various workshops, ranging from "How to keep safe in the Big, Bad City" to "How to Navigate the 5th floor of the Library," were held throughout the day.

Students who had not yet registered for classes were able to do so and many were surprised by the ease at which such a daunting task was able to be completed. Ira Prochko, a new student from Lakewood, NJ, was quite impressed by the "order and professionalism demonstrated by the Registrar's office in processing my class selections."

The highlight of Spring Orientation 2000 was a festive dinner held in honor of all incoming students. This was the first year Yeshiva held such an event and it was received favorably by all in attendance. Everyone raved over the delicious spaghetti and meatball dinner, including various student leaders who were in attendance not only to enjoy the free food, but also to inform the incoming students about the myriad of opportunities available to all who wish to become more involved in student life on campus.

The opening Shabbat of the semester was an overwhelming success. Students took advantage of the great opportunity to hear University President Rabbi Norman Lamm speak at the meals and attend the lively concert given by Aspaklaria on Saturday night. Food Services kept busy as a record number of students stayed in school for Shabbat, providing all the Shabbat meals in addition to a gala kiddish following davening on Shabbat morning.

Although Spring Orientation was not as comprehensive as Fall Orientation, it provided all the essential information to students, incoming or veteran, as well as making the new members of the student body feel as much at home as possible. Leibowitz stressed that "All this is done in hopes of enabling the new students to begin their first college semester on the right foot and help insure that their stay here will be as successful and productive as possible."