New incoming students have their pick of the crop when it comes to orientation weeks at Carleton. This month, some local groups, including service centres run by the Carleton University Students’ Association (CUSA), will be hosting alternative fall orientation events revolving around different themes.
Here’s a breakdown of all the alternative frosh events that will take place in the coming weeks.
BLK frosh
BLK frosh will be the first alternative frosh to take place from Sept. 9-15, hosted by Black Like Me 613—a local organization outside of Carleton that hosts events and creates spaces for the Black community.
According to Selali A-W, the co-founder of BLK Frosh, the week’s theme is “For The Culture” and includes events such as Black Brunch, the Amazing Race, and a workshop called “Surviving school while Black.”
A-W said the week is a way for students to interact and meet with people from the Black community.
“When I came to university, I was looking for people who are Black like me, and who could help me come into myself as I evolved, as I grew, and as I adjusted to the new world around me,” they said.
Vivian Achor, a first-year global and international studies student, said attending such events helps people meet others with shared interests.
“For me, personally, going in to university and meeting new people is not as easy as I thought it was, even though I’m outgoing,” Achor said. “If we’re meeting people that have similarities to us, then we’re going to become more comfortable in the next four or five years.”
Fem(me) frosh
Hosted by the Womxn’s Centre, Fem(me) Frosh is a feminism-focused frosh week that is scheduled to take place from Sept. 17-29.
According to Harar Hall, the centre’s programming coordinator, this year’s theme is “Love yourself,” and includes events such as a do-it-yourself self-care workshop and a session called “Self-love as a womxn of colour.”
Hall said one of the most interesting events of the week is the workshop called “Jilling off,” hosted in collaboration with Venus Envy—a local sex-positive adult entertainment store that focuses on inclusive gender expression and play.
“Whether you’re a newbie to solo play, or looking to change up your usual getting-off routine, ‘Jilling off’ can give you some new ideas and techniques to try out on your own,” she said.
Queer frosh
Queer Frosh will be hosted by the Gender and Sexuality Resource Centre (GSRC) from Sept. 17-20, and focuses on members of the LGBTQ+ community.
This week includes events such as Queer Social Night and a “Consent 101” workshop.
“Regular Frosh can sometimes be a little cis-het normative,” said Joanna Zebib, programming coordinator for the GSRC. “(With Queer Frosh) we aim to foster a community for queer, trans, gender diverse, and two-spirit folks, just so they have a space where they’re celebrated.”
The first event of Queer Frosh will be a queer and trans-inclusive clothing swap and potluck called “Swap and Chomp.”
Zebib says this event is especially important for people who are transitioning.
“Especially for the beginning of the year, [the event] is for a lot of folks who want different kinds of clothing,” they said.
Disorientation Week
Taking place both on and off campus, the Ontario Public Interest Research Group (OPIRG) Carleton will be hosting its sixth Disorientation Week from Sept.17-22. The week aims to introduce local activism culture to incoming students.
One of the week’s events include an Activist Social Dinner at the Graduate Students’ Association (GSA), which hopes to connect new students with grassroots activists and organizers from the local community, and a comedy show hosted by Toronto-based comedy group SHADE!, featuring a full women of colour lineup.
The week also includes an Ottawa walking tour centred around historic protest demonstrations. Starting at the Rideau Canal, the tour visits around ten historical sites of protests. The tour aims to highlight some of the key events that shaped both the region and the country.
Diana Idibe, CUSA’s vice-president (student services), said that alternative frosh events are a great way to build community at the start of the school year.
“The GSRC and Womxns’ Centre exist as safer spaces for Queer students and femme-aligned folks,” Idibe said. “The Fem(me) Frosh and Queer Frosh allow students who identify with these communities to start the process of integrating into Carleton.”
Graphic by Paloma Callo
