In the past, the Orientation Welcome Celebrations have been swathed with uplifting-yet-cheesy themes, such as last year's "All Paths Lead to Tufts." This year, however, the festivities in the Gantcher Family Sports and Convocation Center will lack a theme, choosing instead to focus on the Class of 2009.
This was a laudable decision from the Orientation coordinators, as any additional hype is superfluous at an event such as this.
A theme like last year's bordered on silly and redundant. Shouldn't all paths lead through Tufts - instead of ending at it - if what matters is that we utilize the strong educations we are provided with, and learn how to work with our peers in order to reach our potentials?
Taking the simplistic approach and focusing purely on the students - not proclaiming Tufts as the be all, end all institution - makes more sense, as they are at the crux of the University's mission. The drive then continues in the direction of the students, and away from a hollow celebration.
The task now is to continue with the energy of orientation and let it stimulate and create an environment where such a diverse and intelligent community can flourish. A new class that has received so much praise brings not just talent, but responsibility.
It has become a clich?© ? on the hill that every new class is better than the previous. In addition to the anecdotal evidence of adversities overcome, achievements crowned, and oceans crossed on the way to Tufts, the statistics don't lie. With a record-setting class, Tufts has the obligation to establish such an environment.
President Lawrence Bacow has said repeatedly that he wishes to increase the value of a Tufts degree. The only way to do this is through continual evaluation of the University's programs, values, and standards.
As Tufts' Vision Statement says, "Our programs will be those that meet our own high standards, that augment each other, and that are worthy of the respect of our students and of scholars, educators, and the larger community."
Raising the premium on a Tufts education is a daunting task, and made even more so by the breadth of the community. Everybody who will arrive in the upcoming weeks will have a different agenda for their remaining time at Tufts. The counter starts as soon as one clicks the key into their first residence hall. A better education translates to not simply an increase in academic rigor, but also to a more invigorating atmosphere for extra-curricular lessons.
The usual talk about the strength and diversity of this class can be celebrated in no better way than a dynamic heterogeneous education, which lasts the duration. And this is at the fore of the students' presence on campus.
Just as with the non-theme for orientation, Tufts should continue to scrap the public relations and save the excessive pomp and circumstance for Commencement.
