General Orientation Program
New Student Orientation is a time to help students adjust to BYU and begin Fall Semester with a good start by meeting new people and figuring out how campus works. This story should give you a better idea about what just a few of them are about. Information has been provided by the Academic Advisement Center.
THURSDAY August 24:
Meet Your Y Group Brunch
Free food, fun games and activities, and participation with thousands of other people just starting school like you will be part of the Brunch -- the opening event of Fall New Student Orientation. It is extremely important that you attend the Brunch, because this is where you meet your Y Group Leaders and other members of your Y Group. You will attend New Student Orientation events together and start to form some friendships as you begin school. Don't miss this event!
Attending the Brunch together is critical in getting acquainted, starting to build unity and setting the tone for your Y Group. Y Groups help students meet new friends, get everyone excited about being here and starting school, answer many questions and provide a support group as you attend NSO events together.
This year the Brunch will be held on Thursday, August 24, 10:30 a.m. on the Deseret Towers (DT) field. The Brunch usually lasts one to two hours -- it takes a while to feed 5,000 people; but while you wait for your Y Group to be called up, you will be talking, playing games and doing other things to get to know one another better. Y Groups are spread out across the DT field in numerical order, making it easy to find your Y Group. If you don't know which Y Group you are in when you come to the Brunch, there will be people there to help you find your group.
FRIDAY August 25:
Early Morning Program
'Arise for Honor?'
'Arise for Honor', an exciting early morning program traditionally focuses on the commitment to Honor at BYU. This program, patterned after an early morning talk show, is hosted by the Student Honor Association. Come and enjoy the numerous special guests, including your BYUSA student body president, Student Honor Association president, student athletes and others. You will hear musical numbers, a great live band, and some super commercials guaranteed to entertain!
This year's 'Arise for Honor' program is on Saturday, Aug. 26 at 8 a.m. in the Smith Fieldhouse -- just a nice walk across campus! Don't miss it! You will smile, hear food for thought, empathize, be entertained, laugh and leave with a new appreciation for BYU and the BYU Honor Code.
And remember to pick up your free donuts and juice in the Richards Building Quad after the program!
Friday Night Extravaganza
Most new students enjoy a good party! That helps make the Friday Night Extravaganza (FNE) one of the most popular activities planned for New Student Orientation.
This year's FNE includes huge interactive activities, various dances and entertainment spread throughout the campus for new students to enjoy. This year's FNE offers various entertainment acts -- including The Garrens Comedy Troupe, a popular local comedy group. Free food is also provided!
Leaders and students both agree that the Friday Night Extravaganza is one of the most enjoyable events of NSO. It's a time to relax -- no cards to collect; no information to read. Just let your hair down and have fun!
This fall the Friday Night Extravaganza will be held Aug. 25. Every new student will be admitted free to the events; however, other students must pay to participate in the activities. Events take place from 7 p.m. to midnight.
Friday night activities began as a fancy sit-down banquet followed by other activities. Administrators planning New Student Orientation observed that students got restless and did not enjoy the banquet. It was decided that putting the food in an atmosphere of fun would be more enjoyable for the student and subsequent years have proven this to be true.
Info Fair
Fair Helps Students Learn About Services
Starting college is a stressful time. You can reduce much of that stress by attending the Info Fair, August 25th & 26th (during New Student Orientation) or August 28 - 30 (the first week of school). Off-campus banking institutions, newspapers, long-distance telephone companies, computer and Internet access services, and many on-campus service departments all set up booths at the Info Fair. Through Info Fair, essential services that all new students need are brought together in one location so students don't have to travel all over campus and Utah county to find them.
This year's Info Fair will be held on Brigham Square. Each organization provides information about their respective services and products, and may also provide refreshments and other freebies.
SATURDAY August 26:
'Passport to Destiny'
An outstanding program, Passport to Destiny, will take place in the Marriot Center on Saturday, August 26th at 4:00 p.m. This exciting multimedia production depicts much of the sacrifice and effort expended by hundreds of people so that this institution could become the unique place it is.
Live actors, music, humor and video will combine to tell the BYU story and the story of many of the students who come here from the four corners of the earth. The show depicts sacrifices made by countless others previously so that WE can be here now. It will also helps the audience understand all the elements that combine to make this the unique institution that it is. Representatives from all over campus will combine efforts in the moving finale.
This powerful performance will make you proud to be here, and will probably be a highlight of your New Student Orientation experience.
Saturday Night Finale
This is the closing event during general fall New Student Orientation. Held on Saturday, August 26th from 8:30 till 11:30 p.m. it will give you one last chance to socialize with your new Y Group friends and have fun together. During Closing Ceremonies Cougar Connections winners are announced, slides taken during NSO events are shown, and your student body President and Vice President help us make the transition from all the NSO activities to the Sabbath.
The Saturday Night Finale is not only the final social event of NSO, but it is also the welcoming event for all students who have returned to school for fall semester. This will be a great opportunity for all BYU students to start the new school year and enjoy a few hours together.