Orientation Programme? What Orientation Programme?

A day before Delhi University officially re-opened, various North Campus colleges, namely Hindu College, St. Stephen's College, Sri Ram College of Commerce and Hansraj College scheduled their orientation for freshers. This year, most colleges made an attempt to keep the programme short and sweet, and at most places the 'formality' was over within an hour and a half, unlike last year's record five hours. "We'd expected speeches and we were delivered speeches", laughs Anupama Labar, English Honours 1st year at Hansraj College. "It could have been more entertaining", she complained, hinting at a possible inclusion of more presentations from the various societies active in the college.

Contradicting popular opinion, most freshers felt the orientation would have been an 'orientation' in the true sense if seniors were around since they are expected to give a better picture of what college really is about. Many were actually looking forward to breaking the ice through the "friendly interaction". Tirthankar Bose, 1st year, Maths Honours, clarified that this doesn't imply walking into the lion's den. His class-mate, Indrajit Banerjee shares, "We wanted to check out the college canteen but weren't sure of who might pounce onto us there".

Since parents too were invited for the orientation, a lot of children came with their entire family tagging along. Debanjum Singh, 1st year Physics Honours, Hansraj College, couldn't enter the auditorium as kins of fellow students occupied space intended to seat other students. The venue was brimming over, with people sitting on the floor and on window-sills. "The memory that I'm taking back of my first day in college is standing outside the auditorium listening to disembodied speeches and besura music", he commented. Priyanka Dey, 1st year, History Honours at Hindu doesn't agree with the claim that the idea of parents accompanying their wards is silly. "Parents are obviously interested in their children's welfare, where they are going, what they are upto. Beyond this, in any case, they are letting us be, which is difficult for both parent and child". Hindu College managed the crowd very well in terms of seating but at refreshment counters things went out of hand with students struggling to keep their food from tipping.