Pre-Frosh Week Impressions

To go or not to go to frosh week seems to be a question that is easy for some and plagues many others. While the social keeners who all went in a group to the same university to go or not go to frosh week is like asking whether one should or shouldn't pay their tuition deposit; it seems to be a no brainer. However, for the rest of us who are antisocial, went to a new university by ourselves or are in a completely different faculty than our friends it's a difficult decision.

While the pro to frosh week is consistently that it's a great opportunity to meet new people and get used to the atmosphere one must wonder if you want you first impression of your peers to be that on command they will drop to the group and roll around in moss and shaving cream or that they have absolutely no problem with shouting the same song at the top of their lungs over and over. However, I would argue that in situations in which everyone is forced to publicly humiliate themselves people tend to become more comfortable faster. Sitting in a classroom it may have taken you 15 minutes or more to say something to the person sitting next to you. In comparison, when someone puts a balloon on your chest and tells you and you classmate to hug until it pops the ice has pretty much been broken.

Another fear that people have when choosing to attend frosh week is the looming traditions that surround each school. I have come across no school that had some sort of weird tradition that caused great excitement among some and fear among others. For example, my own school has a tradition where engineering students climb a large pole affectionately named 'the grease pole'. Though I am unaware as to whether it is actually covered in grease. Nevertheless, scaling a giant pole in order to bond with your peers seems a little bit of a daunting task. Though let's face it, only engineering students are ever asked to do things like this.

The good thing about frosh week, at least with the knowledge I currently hold, is that you are able to leave at any point should you feel uncomfortable. That means if someone blindfolds you and tells you to undress you can always take off the blindfold and walk away. While hazing (extremely humiliating and/or aggressive frosh rites, if you will) is illegal it still exists. Though dozens of people (according to seventeen mag) have reported that they always had the option to leave but never took it. If you don't want to do something, you don't have to. Especially pertaining to frosh week because they cannot kick you out of the dorm if you don't go.

I will have better insight into frosh week when I actually attend myself and will be more than happy to give you guys my consensus. For now, these are my first impressions based on things I've heard. as of now, I'm as in the dark as you guys are, but don't we learn best through experience?