Congratulations on your graduation from high school! You have officially moved on to post-secondary education, where people complain constantly about their dire need for sleep, yet continue to attend frat parties on Tuesdays. University is also a great source of confusing student politics, awkward conversations with important people, over-caffeinated adolescents and random philanthropic causes.
As Monica Geller said to a very wet, unwed Rachel Green: “Welcome to the real world. It sucks. You’re gonna love it!”
This new, real-world experience begins with a hype week of wild activities and lit event nights hosted by Carleton’s Student Experience Office, also known as frosh week.
Below are a few must-follow tips to ensure a smooth start to your university experience:
Don’t let other people make your drink or buy you a drink you didn’t see being made.
I know in the hype of the moment, it can be easy to throw back whatever people are offering and accept drinks from that cute frosh, but be a strong, independent person and make your own screwdriver!
Try to find a good group of people right from the start.
Use the character-building frosh events to assess who is a team player and who is a rude douchebag who’d probably not be a helpful person to have around at 2 a.m. so that you can attend the night events with people that have your back.
Once you have determined your pals for the night, let them know your limits for hooking up.
I spent all of my first year being down to hook up, but when I refused to go home with and ran away from a boy who offered to take me home on St. Patrick’s Day, my friends were dumbfounded and very confused. I was under the impression that hooking up was nothing more than tonsil hockey while my friends viewed hooking up as sex. Make your limits clear and well-known, so your new friends can spare you from a tricky, potentially dangerous situation.
Keep your door locked.
I know that by February, everyone’s door will remain unlocked at all times and you will whip into your neighbour’s room to borrow an iron without hesitation, but during frosh week it is best to keep your doors locked. During frosh, there are a lot of students visiting from other schools and no one can recognize when a suspicious person is on the floor compared to just another floormate. Protect yourself and your stuff and lock your door.
Don’t drink to impress.
Downing tequila is always a good time until you miss your first day of classes. There will be plenty of nights to find your poison on crazy trips to Hull or low-key residence hangouts, but instead impress your new friends by earning the frosh spirit award or stealing a record amount of chocolate chip cookies from the cafeteria.
Look out for your fellow first-years and yourself.
You’re all in this together, and if you see something weird, tell someone! Both your action or inaction could define someone’s university experience. Frosh facilitators are always ready to listen and your residence fellows have extensive support training. You can also call Campus Safety (613-520-4444, or just 4444 from any campus phone) or find Foot Patrol (the people walking around campus in vests). Be a friend to your fellow first-years.
Be wary of night events not sponsored by Carleton.
It is not new information that every September, Carleton is flooded with 17- and 18-year-olds who are new to Ottawa and looking to party. First-year students are often the targets of scams and fake parties. Do your research, ask your frosh facilitators, and travel in groups.
Put the emergency numbers in your phone.
During your first floor meeting, your res fellows will give you all of the campus emergency numbers. Put them in your phone! You don’t need them until you do and you don’t want to be screwing around with your data and Google searching when your friend is showing signs of alcohol poisoning.
There are always supports and campus services available to you.
Your frosh facilitators and res fellows are ALWAYS willing to help, but here are a few more resources:
- Foot Patrol: 613-520-4066
- Carleton University Student Emergency Response team: 613-520-4444 or 4444 from any campus phone
- Carleton’s Equity Services/ Sexual Assault Support Services: 613-520-5622
- The Enhanced Assess, Acknowledge, Act Sexual Assault Resistance Education Program (EAAA) is a free sexual assault education program for female university students. Head to 503 Robertson Hall for more information.
Photo by Angela Tilley
