In fewer than four weeks yet another round of freshmen will descend upon Hanover to begin their Dartmouth careers.
The College has been gearing up for the latest round of wide-eyed freshmen for the past six months, Dean of Freshmen Peter Goldsmith said.
Goldsmith said this year's orientation will "prepare students to begin their course work and to facilitate their transition to college. The students will get help in course selection and meet with their faculty advisers. They will also become acquainted with the resources of the College through department open houses."
Goldsmith said orientation begins Sept. 13 with the distribution of computers and ends the night before classes begin on Sept. 19.
"There will also be a pre-orientation period for international students and those who live far enough away not to be able to return home after their DOC trips," said Freshman Office Intern Sara Clark '97.
As in past years, College President James Freedman will hold a reception on his front lawn and the College will hold two class meetings.
The first meeting will be in Leede Arena, said Katie LaForgia '97, co-chair of the orientation committee of the Green Key Honor Society.
Dr. C. Everett Koop willspeak to freshmen about "Women and Men at Dartmouth: Facing the 21st Century" at the second class meeting on the Bema, LaForgia said.
"Convocation is the last official event of orientation before classes begin," LaForgia said. "President Freedman and guest speaker, Dr. Barry Sharpless '63 and chemistry professor at a research institute, will address the Class of 1999."
Goldsmith said College preparations for this year's freshmen began by outlining of the program for Community at Dartmouth night, formerly known as Social Issues night, which takes place during orientation.
"We want to continue the initiative of last year, to present a program that helps students explore the significance of social differences, and of community across boundaries," Goldsmith said. "We hope to acquaint students with the various kinds of hazards of the first year experience, without being alarmist."
Ana Henderson '94, who is coordinating Community at Dartmouth night said students and faculty are currently involved in "planning and writing what is to be presented in a series of dramatic presentations."
Henderson said her group has no solid program yet.
"So far we have nothing concrete but our goal is to familiarize the students with resources of the College that they can go to for help and to highlight some of the problems that may arise during the first year," she said.
In order to foster "an intellectual focus to orientation," Goldsmith said orientation will feature a series of faculty lectures interspersed throughout the week.
"These lectures will be discipline-specific and substance-based and will give the students an introduction to the comely pleasure to be found in the exchange of ideas," he said.
Faculty members who will lead lectures include Psychology Professors George Wolford and Ann Clark and Spanish Professor Diana Taylor.
The Office of Residential Life and over 100 Undergraduate Advisors and Area Directors are also preparing for the Class of 1999, Area Director Chris Foley said.
Foley said UGAs will undergo an extensive week-long training beginning Sept. 7.
