Making new connections

College is the first time away from home for many people, forcing them to rely on new social structures

By: Mindy Brown/ staff writer

Posted: 8/26/04

For most people, their college career is filled with many firsts: first roommate not related to them, first broken schedule, where they may have one class one day and seven the next, and most importantly, first time being away from the parental figures.

We all saw the freshmen and their parents lugging all that stuff to their dorm rooms. It was crazy and chaotic, but students were offered help from the very moment they drove on to the campus lot.

Freshman Justin Hearty said, "There was a good set up [at Taylor] were people helped you take stuff to your room and helped you just move in faster."

After carrying load after load of boxes, TVs, refrigerators and stereos up the stairs (hopefully you were lucky enough to have an elevator), tears were shed, t-shirts were purchased and promises to call often were made. Most of the freshmen both feared and desperately wanted their parents to leave, getting anxious as time rolled on. After a few kisses and hugs, and many more tears, the "P's" as Honors College Dean Bonnie Irwin dubbed parents, finally left.

College life officially started as soon as those taillights faded in the distance. Students were free to do what they wanted without having to account themselves to anyone. People could stay out all night and (technically) didn't even have to attend classes the next morning if they were too tired. It's overwhelming.

It is too overwhelming for some. According to research done by UCLA, one third of students "reported feeling 'frequently' overwhelmed by all they had to do. Over one-third also felt 'frequently' or 'occasionally' lonely or homesick, worried about meeting new people and that they needed to break away from their family in order to succeed."

Homesickness is a major factor in college life, because for the first time students are away from the family and friends that they have come to rely on for so many years. But the fear of having to meet new people is what really intimidates most students.

Freshmen are thrown into a huge mess of new people as soon as they step out of their cars. From meeting upperclassmen that help them find their rooms, to the scary-in-itself event of meeting their roommate, to the overwhelming number of events planned for the incoming freshmen, meeting people is not only scary, but forced. Michael "Hollywood" Tomasek said that events such as the freshmen mixer Thursday night on the South Quad were "a good way to meet people, if you had the balls." Fortunately, networks of acquaintances grew and more and more people became comfortable with opening up to new people. Everyone is in the same boat their freshman year; everyone is new.

When talking to new freshmen, there are a few different stories that are told about roommates. If their roommate is someone they didn't know before college, they either like or tolerate each other, at least this early in the game. The comfort level has not been reached and they are still treating each other as guests instead of friends. Freshmen also have the option of choosing someone they already knew as a roommate and this seems to work well. The comfort level is already reached and as Freshman Katie McAndrew puts it, "you can be sarcastic and annoying at each other and not feel bad about it. It's just more normal and natural."

Unfortunately, there are a few disappointing roommate stories. Freshman Jenna Caschetta had her first roommate tell her she wasn't coming to Eastern when she called her before the term started. The day of move in, Caschetta's new assigned roommate commented to her mother, "I don't want to be here," and packed her things and left the next morning.

Fortunately, people like Caschetta, and everyone else in fact, had little time for those homesick feelings with all the events planned for the first few days. The common theme was that meeting people was important. Getting out there and getting to know others is the best way to feel comfortable in your surroundings.

The South Quad was abuzz with music, bingo, free food and inflatables. There were comedians and movies, parties on 9th street and just sitting around meeting people who happened to go by.

There are also several resources for students in adjusting to their new lifestyle. Due to the fact that they were so booked with helping students, the counseling center had no time for an interview, but they said they are willing to help students in acclimating themselves. Just call 581-3413 to schedule an appointment.

Monday marked the first day of the term, and classes went well for most. Caschetta thought her professors "seemed cool," and jokingly added "they haven't scared me yet." The confused and lost looks that commonly mark a freshman's face were quickly changed into smiles and thanks as Eastern veterans helped their young comrades out. Tomasek enjoys the fact that "everyone here is so open, so cool, very liberal, and nice."

A lot of information is thrown at new students in the first few days and more is to come. With class information from professors, floor and hall meetings, random informational meetings like the sorority informational in the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union this past Tuesday evening and Pantherpalooza from 12- 4 p.m. on September 8 in the South Quad, everything is screaming, "pay attention to me, I am important!"

The joy of being on their own though, is that freshmen, and the other students, get the opportunity to make up their minds as to what clubs they want to be associated with, whether to join a fraternity or sorority, and what classes to take, add, or drop. For the first time, their lives are their own, and most freshmen love the freedom.

To get a heads-up on what is out there in the "after-class world" at Eastern, there is a list of Recognized Student Organizations (RSOs) on Eastern's Student Life web page. Whatever you are looking for, from greek life to religious organizations, the web page has links to most of the clubs on campus.

There are several ways that the campus is getting word out. Freshman just need to keep their eyes and ears open to find the information they crave. Except maybe the fraternity guys, they need to promote more. "They don't try hard enough. I haven't seen a rush shirt since coming here. I don't know anything about any frat," Tomasek said.

Get on that you guys.