Freshers’ week at UWI

Dubbed as “Freshers’ Week”, the period spanning from September 5 - 9, saw the campus become a hub of activities, as the university sought to assist new students in their transition to university life in addition to providing them with an avenue to socialise with other new and returning students.

Organised by the University’s Guild of Students, the activities unofficially kicked off with the “First Year Experience” ceremony held at the campus’ Sports and Physical Education Centre (SPEC) on September 2. The orientation event which comprised of presentations by various student support networks.

Forming part of the university’s co-curricular network, numerous student clubs and societies were on hand to officially kick off the freshers’ week activities on September 5.

All clubs were given a booth which collectively formed the “orientation village” in the quadrangle. In a bid to attract new and returning students to sign up and become active members of their groups, each booth featured games, giveaways and presentations.

Mobile network bmobile, who has partnered with the university over the past few years of freshers’ week, again provided giveaways and attractive offers.

Abuzz with activity, bmobile booth saw a steady stream of students daily as they were encouraged to show off their dancing skills in the “Just Dance” virtual dance game for chances to win handsets and other mobile accessories such as speakers and selfie sticks.

Capitalising on the latest Pok?mon Go craze, bmobile also hosted a Pok?mon Go tournament, rewarding the person who caught the most virtual characters around the campus throughout fresher’s week. Supligen and Bermudez were just some of the other local businesses that were present to provide giveaways and supplies to new and returning students.

Not to be left out, regional and international students were given an opportunity to feel at home as they were alotted booths in the orientation village to display fun facts and well-known products that their home countries are known for.

Providing a ground report of the different island associations that were present, Ashia Forde and Michelle Leonard of the Guild’s Publication Committee, said the islands represented included the Bahamas, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines and from the Leeward Islands.

In a show of unity and inclusiveness students from all regions were invited to create dishes that represented their home countries in the “Taste UWI” competition on September 9. The Dominican Students’ Association of Trinidad and Tobago (DOMSATT ) won with roasted plantains stuffed with salt fish alongside plantain punch and plantain ice-cream. In a close second place was the Leeward Islands Students Association followed by the St Vincent and The Grenadines Students Association in third place.

The week rounded off with the customary annual “Freshers’ Fete” at the UWI SPEC facility which was well attended by new and returning students.