Middlebury greets Feb class of 2013.5

As other students went their separate ways for February Break, 95 new Febs set foot on campus for the first time. Yes – the Febs have landed. The highly diverse Class of 2013.5 includes seven international students, 10 transfer students and people from all over the country.

The first steps toward organizing the orientation were taken in October, as Feb orientation co-chairs Sasha Hirsch ’10.5 and Jessica Minton ’10.5 selected 26 Feb leaders to help with the five-day event. The Feb Leaders went to meetings throughout Winter Term to prepare for the incoming students, who arrived Feb. 3. As the Febs went to pick up their orientation packets from Axinn, they were greeted by a large group of leaders.

“The only thing better than being a Feb is being a Feb Leader,” said Rhiya Trivedi ’12.5. The international students arrived one day earlier, and were each assigned a Feb mentor to help them settle in.
Njabulo Mndzebele ’13, a Feb mentor, said she worked especially closely with the international Febs to ease their transition.

“Having been through the experience of adapting to life here recently, it was great welcoming the international Febs, sharing their experience with them and making their transition to Middlebury easier,” she said.

Once the Febs had arrived and moved in, they were split into 12 different orientation groups of four girls and guys with two Feb leaders. They stayed with their groups for most of the orientation activities.

Ben Kingstone ’12.5, a Feb leader, said the groups provided support for the students throughout their time at the College.

“By the end of orientation, the orientation groups become a nuclear family that you can rely on for the next four years,” he said.

Once the activities began, the Febs were kept busy, with most days ending at 11 p.m.

“It was really intense constantly moving between activities, but I got to know a lot of my class in a short amount of time,” Nicholas Laughlin ’13.5 said.

Among other events, the Febs enjoyed a Square Dance, Trivia Night, Talent Show and an afternoon at the Snow Bowl. Beyond Facebook was another popular event that helped solidify the connection between the new students and brought them together as a class.

Grace Donovan ’13.5 said the orientation was a tremendously positive experience. “It was a whirlwind of fun,” she said. “There was a lot of energy from the Feb Leaders that was really contagious.”

Despite the budget cuts the College has been dealing with, February Orientation generally continued as it had in past years.

“The most critical elements of Feb Orientation seem to have survived budget cuts, I think, because they come from the incredible enthusiasm of new students and their leaders,” Minton said. “For incoming Febs, orientation isn’t only the start of college; it’s the end of what, for many, has been a fascinating time to explore.”