Frosh Week

To many frosh people at UPEI this year, their first university experience (a.k.a. ordeal) was waiting in long lines at the beginning of Frosh Week. Oddly enough, this was perceived as a good thing(!) by the organizers. Were they getting us into practice for Registration Day?

As we were separated into colour groups, we got down to the business of harassing each other. Sometimes, however, it was difficult to find the enemy because so many of the different colours were the same colour.

The ‘Let’s pretend we’re six’ games were liberally spiced with rushing the group to the right of you and hurling insults to the left.

What was the goal of this week? ‘‘To orientate frosh to UPEI bu introducing you to its people, its services and life here in general?’’ I don’t think so, unless its people are in kindergarten, its servicees include riot control and life resembles war. It was more like *“*Come make 30 friends, and 300 enemies’ ’.

Gumbota means ‘meeting place’ in an aboriginal language. Perhaps they meant ‘foolish place’. This was an afternoon of committee members making fools of themselves, colour groups hurling insults under the guise of skits and tossing of Caesar Salad. What did I say about 30 friends....?

Fun was had at the nightly dances where the music was loud, the drinks safe (condom filled), and the upperclassmen hyper. The Frosh who were there had fun, whether or not they were harassed into going.

There was a good cause in amongst the bizarreness. Cystic Fibrosis. In the fight against CF, the colours united, just like Bennetton, and fought the ugly monster. We fought the good fight, against CF and each other, but neither has won yet. I can just see us at Graduation, plotting against the Orange team.

To all the heartbroken frosh who missed the week,

don’t fear, Flash is here. Next year, you can be one of the hyper-kinetic, loud, somewnat violent, much foolish upperclassrmen who made the week so bizarre for the Frosh. See ya next year.

By Colleen Easter, A Frosh who had fun Frosh Week but just won’t admit it.

UPEI X-Press

September 19, 1991