Orientation a low-key affair

By Krystal Tabin

tabi0007@algonquincollege.com

Students in one of the more than 20 programs starting this semester were invited to the Observatory Jan. 8 for orientation.

Overall, the event was very low-key, almost to the point of non-existent.

Outside the Observatory, two informational booths drew the occasional passer-by, who usually left with a freebie or two being offered by the Students' Association and student services.

Annie Thomlinson, who manned the SA booth, said that Thursdays seemed to be the slowest day on campus and that orientation wasn't as busy as it had been some years.

Once inside the Observatory, it was hard to tell that it wasn't just another day. Very few signs pointed students in the right direction.

The henna station tucked by the bar was often deserted with little to advertise it except a roll of paper towel and a brown bottle.

The true success of orientation was hidden in the opposite corner of the Observatory. Constantly surrounded by a group of students, tarot master Yolande Donnelly gave free readings to students.

The students were not the only ones not making a showing. One of the events, free caricature drawings, had to be canceled as the artist could not get a ride in due to the bus strike, according to Thomlinson.

Despite the poor showing, students who did discover the event were pleased.

Shauna Baron and Amanda Hodgson, who both started last fall in the child and youth worker program, excitedly showed off their new henna tattoos and were quick to say that they love when the SA held events like this.