August 21, 2002
NASHVILLE, Tenn. –
Their arrival on campus will be followed by a week’s worth of traditions and other events
that are expected to become traditions, including the first-ever “Founders Walk” Aug. 27 through the main University gate by incoming freshmen, who will be greeted by faculty, staff and current students.
For the fourth year, freshmen will vow to honor Vanderbilt’s long tradition of academic integrity Aug. 26 when they sign a copy of the honor code for permanent display. The signatures will later be framed and will hang in the Sarratt Student Center as a tribute to the honor code, which has existed at Vanderbilt since 1875.
Welcoming the students to Nashville will be banners at various establishments participating in the University’s first-ever “Show Your Gold” competition. The University encouraged campus-area merchants to custom-design banners and display them as a way to greet returning and new students and their families.
Even before move-in day Aug. 24, entering freshmen have been given an opportunity to build relationships through four pre-orientation experiences. Known collectively as DoreWays, the program includes: a three-day team-building experience at a local camp, a five-day focus on six service-learning sites in the Nashville area; a weeklong outdoor wilderness adventure and a leadership skills development experience.
Orientation will conclude Aug. 30-31 with Welcome Weekend, two days of programs and events designed for students to get to know one another. Faculty, staff and upperclass students are invited to participate. Events include a student organization fair, live music, a showing of the movie Spider-Man, a comedy performance and carnival rides.
Approximately 1,600 students from all 50 states and more than 40 foreign countries are expected to enroll as freshmen.
First-Week Activities at Vanderbilt
Here is a partial list of events scheduled in conjunction with the start of the school year at Vanderbilt:
Week of Aug. 19
Show Your Gold – Elliston Place, Hillsboro Village, Midtown and West End Avenue merchants display banners they have custom-designed to welcome Vanderbilt students back to campus. Prizes will be awarded to the most creative in each of the hotel, restaurant and retail categories.
Aug.17-24
Doreways-WilSkills Experience – About 40 first-year students, faculty or staff members and student leaders will spend the week rock climbing, caving and white water canoeing in and around Tennessee.
Aug. 20-24
Doreways-Big Horizons: Connecting, Living & Learning – About 60 first-year students, faculty or staff members and upperclass student leaders will join community partners in an introduction to service-learning. The six sites will focus on environmental issues, women’s concerns, the international community in Nashville, children’s issues and equine therapy with disabled children.
Aug. 21-24
Doreways-Leadership Odyssey – Thirty first-year students and four student leaders will discuss with various Vanderbilt faculty and Nashville community leaders issues and challenges facing today’s student leaders.
Doreways-Squirrel Camp – Two hundred incoming students will spend their time camping, making their way through rope courses and canoeing at the Joe C. Davis YMCA Camp on Percy Priest Lake.
Saturday, Aug. 24
Move-in Day – Residence halls open for all new students at 9 a.m.
Chancellor’s Family Welcome Address – Alumni Lawn. 5:30 p.m. Chancellor Gordon Gee and Dean of Admissions William Shain will address approximately 3,000 parents of freshmen.
Monday, Aug. 26
Honor Code Ceremony and Signing – Alumni Lawn. 7:15 p.m. All 1,600 members of the freshman class will gather to sign their names on parchment paper that will be framed and hung in Sarratt Student Center. The students will pledge to comply with Vanderbilt’s Honor Code. Chancellor Gee and Honor Council President Peter McHenry will address the group.
Tuesday, Aug. 27
Founders Walk and Chancellor’s Welcome – West End Avenue at Kirkland Hall esplanade; Curry Field. 4:30 p.m. Faculty, staff and current students will gather at the Kirkland Hall esplanade to welcome members of the incoming freshman class who will proceed onto campus through the front gates of the university. A ceremony on Curry Field will feature a formal welcome by Chancellor Gordon Gee, Provost Nicholas Zeppos and others.
Wednesday, Aug. 28
Classes begin.
Thursday, Aug. 29
Faculty Assembly – Langford Auditorium. 4-6 p.m. Chancellor Gee will deliver his traditional welcome address to members of the Vanderbilt faculty and present two faculty awards.
Friday, Aug. 30-Saturday, Aug. 31
Welcome Weekend – Begins with a student organization fair 2-5 p.m. Friday on Alumni Lawn and concludes with a midnight Saturday showing of Spider-Man at Sarratt Student Center.
Media contact: Elizabeth Latt, 615-322-NEWS, elizabeth.p.latt@vanderbilt.edu