Anybody remember “Keep Frosh Week by Students for Students”? It seems like such a long time ago we heard from our student union about how the administration was trying to take Frosh Week away from them and we'd have some dreary, boring academic-type orientation void of all that is fun.

To the rest of us, the admin's plans were a welcome change.
Many were tired of the forced “solidarity” that was the hidden premise behind much of the week. However, in the end there was no “takeover” and a compromise was reached. The union could run the week, but final authority lay with the administration. What resulted was a hybrid Frosh Week with academic events tossed into the usual mix.

In my view, it turned out pretty well. All week I heard “Free shit's good shit!” Sounds cool.

Except nothing was free. I was getting bought with my own money. T-shirts, lanyards and much more were tossed at students throughout the week. These items, all well-branded with messaging brought to you by the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS), were excellent bribes. Think of the Conservative government's “Economic Action Plan” signs being plastered on hundreds of items, paid for with your money.

The atmosphere was not welcoming to fiscal responsibility, but it sure did make things fun. They also helped serve as excellent propaganda to build up to the CFS's latest campaigns. After years of a failed “Drop Fees” campaign, we were all introduced on closing night to their new “Education is a Right” campaign by CUSA's vice-president (student services), Sam Heaton.
I never did frosh in my first year. So I came into it with no idea what the real story was.

Yes, I have heard others recall their tales about it. It was either the best week of their lives, or a total waste of time. There was no middle ground. I may be the first, but I'm actually in the middle. Yes, I had an amazing time, but there were several instances to detract from the experience.

First, I spent the week without a formal facilitator t-shirt because they did not order enough for our group.

The other detractor was the overt indoctrination with campaigns sponsored by the CFS, of which we are Local 1. The “Local 1 Salute” (the third finger of your right hand, commonly referred to as your middle finger, is extended with your arm at a 60 degree angle) was a prominent feature of the week. One has to wonder, what is a student who does not agree with what the CFS stands for supposed to do? Many Carleton students may not agree with aspects of the activism.

Yet, if they wanted to participate in frosh, as either a frosh or a facilitator, they were forced into it. This could be one of the reasons frosh participation has only been around 50 per cent, which was one of the admin's reasons for interference. With this early introduction to divisive politics, it is no wonder the school year is often filled with political battles.

Frosh Week is supposed to be about meeting and bonding with your fellow students. Spending 14+ hours a day for eight days with the same people creates a special bond that is like no other.

Frosh Week provides a great chance for students to get to know each other and to create friendships that will last throughout the years here at Carleton. However, there needs to be less activism as that only divides the student population.

Let's keep Frosh Week apolitical, and maybe there will be greater participation levels in years to come.