New Seahawks welcomed at Freshmen Frenzy

By Matthew Porche
Contributing Writer

Young, eager faces crowded into Broward College’s South Campus Gymnasium to attend the Freshmen Frenzy event on Oct. 3. The event was organized and put together by Rose Ortega, Director of Student Life and Development on South Campus, with the help of student advisor Dr. Matthew Pace, English professor Dr. Patrick Ellingham, Student Government (SGA), Student Programming Board, and Gay Straight Alliance (GSA).
Booths were set up around the gymnasium giving freshmen detailed descriptions about the numerous clubs and organizations available at BC. These clubs included Student Government, the Student Programming Board, the Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society, GSA, and ASPIRA organizations.
Dr. Pace, who hosted the event, explained why he thought the event was helpful to freshmen students. “Freshmen students attending the Freshmen Frenzy will learn that there are also other things they can do outside of their school curriculum, including clubs and organizations they can get involved in,” he said. Students were able to receive information on a new club called Fit4Life, created to encourage students to live a healthy lifestyle.
In addition to informing freshmen students about the several clubs on campus, areas of the gymnasium were set up to give information about ways students can receive financial aid, scholarships and legal assistance. “My advice to students is to get involved [with] as much as you can by getting connected with your peers and professors,” Dr. Pace said.
Between the commentary by Dr. Pace and Dr. Ellingham, who spoke words of encouragement to the freshman class, students were entertained by hip hop and salsa dancing performances, a team oriented beach ball activity and prize drawings that included a $50 gift card and an iPod Nano. “I really enjoyed the hip hop dancer [named Pablo], he was really talented,” said Karland Joseph, a freshman majoring in nursing. She felt she would walk away with better knowledge of her college experience. “The Freshman Frenzy was helpful because it elaborated on things freshmen students should know.”
Baret Hazell, a freshman majoring in architecture, enjoyed the event as well. “I would recommend this to other students in the future because you really don’t get a chance to interact with everyone in the classroom, and here there are fresh, familiar faces,” Hazell explained while enjoying lunch with his new friends.
Students were given a lecture on campus safety by Albert Smith, dean of business, and were explained how BC maintains a safe environment for students. Later in the event, the students were given a PowerPoint presentation by Dr. Ellingham, who spoke to students about the importance of becoming good learners throughout their lives. “Once you stop learning, you stop living, really, because there is so much more to learn about life than what you learn here in college,” he said. Dr. Ellingham went on to explain the relationship between professors and college students. “Our job as professors is [to be] here to help you along the way, as you find your way and discover who you want to be.”
SGA and the Student Programming Board also took the stage and performed a skit for the freshman, giving them information about the opportunities available on campus such as intramural sports and the campus game room.
After the event, students were given free Popeye’s lunches, and were allowed to tour the gymnasium and view the various booths that were set up. According to Laudy Oliverous , Central Campus student, the event was a success. “It’s really good to come here and learn new things, especially relating to how we can improve in college,” said Oliverous.