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Orientation reflects student worries

Arizona Summer Wildcat

Parents worry about the construction more than the students

As incoming students find their way onto the UA campus for orientation, their excitements and confusions are clear as they begin their transition from high school. Now part of that transition are fences and holes in the ground.

While some students and parents say the University of Arizona construction will contribute new opportunities, some find it aggravating.

Parents, who also go through the orientation, said they think construction is affecting the transportation and parking around the campus. However, in the long run, it will benefit the students both socially and academically.

"I think the construction is awful so far," said Elizabeth Jackson, parent of incoming freshman.

Jackson, whose husband is disabled, had to take a longer and complicated way to go to his destination because of the construction.

Shana Oseran said her daughter will be a freshman in the fall semester, but she doesn't have any complaints about the construction.

"Right now, the construction looks like a huge swimming pool and it is ugly. I wish it was already 2002 because it would be wonderful then," Oseran said.

Maria Barrow, orientation coordinator, said the orientation tours include the construction sites and orientation leaders explain how the construction will improve the university as a whole.

"Most programs are away from the construction, so students see the construction sites as they take campus tours," Barrow said.

All beginning students must attend an orientation, which introduces them to the academic program that they'll be entering and offers an opportunity to learn about the aspects of campus life.

Although the construction has decreased room availability for the workshops and conferences, it hasn't negatively affected the orientations, Barrow said.

"The overall evaluation for the orientation is very positive, and there hasn't been any complaints from the parents or the students regarding the construction. Parents seem to like what the construction will bring to their children."

The orientation program includes required placement exams (math, English, foreign language), meetings with academic advisors, registration for courses, information sessions on strategies for success and social activities.

"Freshmen look at the construction in a different way than the older students because, unlike the older, they don't have the old frame to look for," Barrow said. "Most of them didn't see the previous way the UA looked, so there is no difference for them."

Kacey Urquidez, orientation director, said the construction hasn't negatively affected the orientation.

"The space we need is still there," she said.

A tent that was built for the June 1 orientation was the result of room unavailability.

"There was a conference in the Senior Ball Room, so the orientation opening was located at the tent. But, for the next orientation, we use the ball rooms," Urquidez said. "We share the resources with the conference service, and we work very well," she added.

Overall, incoming freshmen said that they feel that the means of construction will be worth the end result.

"The construction is kind of annoying, but it isn't a big deal," said Ann Versteeg, an incoming freshman. "We can come back to a beautiful campus when we graduate."

Aana Moon Kim, incoming biochemistry freshman agrees the construction will improve the campus.

"I don't have any problem with the construction. When the new student union is completed, there will be a new building for us," Kim said. "It will bring new opportunities that we can share with our friends."

Ayse Guner can be reached at city@wildcat.arizona.edu.

	Justin Bosch "That (Integrated Learning Center) sounds pretty cool, because it is under ground.That student union is not bad, but we'll have a new one."
	Jevon Edmond "It's going pretty good, you know, a lot of fun, I made it this far. I haven't seen the designs yet, but I have no complainst"
	Jessica Corkill "It (Integrated Learning Center) seems pretty need. It is still underground, so I don't really know what it will be like." "I have never been on the campus when the construction wasn't there, so I I am kind of used to walking around it, it doesn't seem like that much of a hassle."
	Michaele Noel "It's not very helpful, it messes up, if you try to go by the map, you can't really go."