{"id":156783,"date":"2023-09-08T09:01:07","date_gmt":"2023-09-08T13:01:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/?p=156783"},"modified":"2023-09-11T08:34:41","modified_gmt":"2023-09-11T12:34:41","slug":"slideshow-hour-by-hour-on-opening-day-with-the-class-of-2027","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/2023\/09\/08\/slideshow-hour-by-hour-on-opening-day-with-the-class-of-2027\/","title":{"rendered":"Slideshow: Hour by hour on Opening Day with the Class of 2027"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Student leaders and Bates staff teamed up on a gorgeous Opening Day, Aug. 31, to help the members of the Class of 2027 get settled in their campus residences. Here’s a look, hour by hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7:09 a.m. Set the table<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
\"Images
Phyllis Graber Jensen\/Bates College<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Bookended by two student Orientation leaders, Brenda Pelletier, associate director of conference and campus events, readies a table in the arcade of Commons. Soon, first-year students will flow through, picking up their room keys and Bates IDs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7:14 a.m. Ships ahoy<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
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Phyllis Graber Jensen\/Bates College<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A fleet of five canoes, 1,200 water bottles per canoe, and a world of ice. That\u2019s what goes into the iconic water stations on Opening Day and other big Bates events. Billie Coburn, the board plan manager in dining, conferences and campus events, drives the canoes out in a Bates pickup truck to place them beside birch trees near Commons, and chain them up there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Launched, so to speak, several years ago, the canoe tradition is the brainchild of Christine Schwartz, associate vice president for dining, conferences, and campus events. The festive yet rustic outdoor decor spices up the lawns around campus, while keeping folks hydrated on busy Bates days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The outdoorsy water stations have holes in them to allow the melted ice to drain out, which lightens the canoes when it’s time for removal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They\u2019re tethered to trees to keep hi-jinks minded students at bay. \u201cTwo years ago, students dragged them into Lake Andrews. It must have been at Commencement, when there was mischief making. They\u2019re not easy to get out of the water,\u201d said John Lajoie, associate director of dining services. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

7:42 a.m. Gotta scoot<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
\"Images
Phyllis Graber Jensen\/Bates College<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Zooming along Alumni Walk, Molly Newton \u201911, senior associate dean of students, sports a Barbie-pink skirt complete with a bright pink Jetson Jupiter Jumbo light-up scooter \u2014 a stunning fusion of premeditation and serendipity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Newton, well known for using a scooter to move about campus for her work, had the outfit selected for some time, but the new scooter was last-minute addition to the ensemble, thanks to Suzie Nattress, who manages the college electronic access system and who bought the scooter and brought it to Newton\u2019s office the day before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7:53 a.m. Tick tock<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
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Phylis Graber Jensen\/Bates College<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Cal Dagner \u201927 of Crozet, Va., watches an early morning football practice on Garcelon Field, flanked by her parents, Anne and Donovan. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They were just killing time, they said, waiting for the 8 a.m. opening of Commons for first-year student registration. Cal Dagner will be rowing for Bates, but she\u2019s most excited for the snow. \u201cI\u2019m looking forward to learning to ski!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7:56 a.m. Wishing wall\u00a0<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
\"Phyllis
Phyllis Graber Jensen\/Bates College<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Waiting outside Commons for first-years passing by en route to their residences was a free-swag raffle and a Wishing Wall. The Bobcat swag raffle used to be a one-and-done event, but this year the raffle continued throughout orientation weekend to be more inclusive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Wishing Wall invited first-years to share their aspirations for their first Bates year, such as: \u201cFriends,\u201d \u201cHave work\/life balance,\u201d \u201cMake memories,\u201d even the boast: \u201cBecome a billionaire.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEveryone comments on that one,\u201d said Kate Schulze \u201826 of Hudson, Ohio, who helped run the early shift at the information table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From left are Sadie Kriegler ’24 of Greenwich, Ct., Audrey Esteves ’26 of Cranford, N.J., Sophie Man-Hudspith ’26 of New York, N.Y., Julia Jeong ’24 of Clifton, Va., and Aydan Gedeon-Hope ’25 of Norton, Mass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8:01 a.m. All keyed up<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
\"Images
Phyllis Graber Jensen\/Bates College<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The routine on Opening Day is that first-year students \u2014 like Brendan Kelly \u201927 of Dallas \u2014 get dropped off on the Central Avenue side of Commons, walk inside to get their IDs, keys, and some Bates swag, and depart on the Alumni Walk side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For many first-year students, this is their first moment on their own as a Bates student. But they’re not alone for long: outside Commons, a cohort of student Orientation students leaders staff an information table with candy, maps, stickers, and even a raffle chance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8:15 a.m. Great day to be a bobcat!<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
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Phyllis Graber Jensen\/Bates College<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A buoyant President Garry W. Jenkins and his husband, Jon Lee, greet Alex Appleton \u201827 of White Bear Township, Minn., as he arrives on campus on Opening Day. Jenkins and Lee came to greet new students outside Commons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8:22 a.m. Traffic control<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Phyllis Graber Jensen\/Bates College<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Bates staff are stationed on Central Avenue, outside Commons, to greet and guide incoming families. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among the staff is Jeremy McFarland, a counselor with Admission. The Admission team spends a better part of a year getting to know prospective Bates students through their application materials. \u201cIt’s so great to be part of this exciting moment for students,\u201d he said. \u201cIt’s so nice to see some familiar faces and get to meet the students who I’ve been reading and talking about.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8:43 a.m. Three degrees<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
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Phyllis Graber Jensen\/Bates College<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Jenkins greets Sophia Levine ’27 of Charlottesville, Va., as she moves her gear into Kalperis Hall. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sophia’s parents, Alison Levine and Stephen Levine, are graduates of Haverford Colllege, as is Jenkins. \u201cWe didn’t know each other in college,\u201d said Alison, who had just learned that Jenkins is \u201ca fellow ‘Ford.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Levines weren’t expecting to see the new Bates president as part of their move-in experience, but then, mirabile dictu<\/em>, Jenkins \u201cwalks into my daughter’s first year dorm room, which was just kind of sweet.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8:46 a.m. Team effort<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
\"Images
Phyllis Graber Jensen\/Bates College<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The family that makes a bed together, stays together. The Smiths of Essex, Mass., show how. From left, Claire, Chris, and Annie Smith ’27.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8:49 a.m. Rolling out the welcome mat<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
\"Images
Phylllis Graber Jensen\/Bates College<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Owen Gammill ’26 of Seattle, an AESOP trip leader, assists first-year students moving into Kalperis Hall by carrying a rug in from Campus Avenue. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

9:13 a.m. Wipe out<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
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Phylllis Graber Jensen\/Bates College<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Facility Services staff wipe down the rows of chairs set up on the Historic Quad for the annual welcome by President Jenkins and other college leaders later in the day. With 850 chairs to tackle, it\u2019s a team effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

9:52 a.m. Leap into a new era<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
\"Images
Phyllis Graber Jensen\/Bates College<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Three student Orientation leaders welcome new students under the skybridge at Gillespie Hall. From left, Maddy Ewell \u201924 of Ridgewood, N.J., Kendall Jones \u201925 of Plymouth, N.H., and May Whelan \u201925 of Bristol, R.I.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

10:08 a.m. (Not) all by myshelf<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
\"Images
Phyllis Graber Jensen\/Bates College<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

New Bates parent Amanda McGovern and her young son, Liam, sit on the floor of a common space in Gillespie Hall putting together a bookshelf for Amanda’s older son, Jack McGovern \u201827 of New York, N.Y. Amanda holds the pieces steady while Liam pushes bolts into holes and screws them in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt gives him a little extra storage,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

10:44 a.m. Sing out loud<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
\"Images
Phyllis Graber Jensen\/Bates College<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

On a high-energy day, several student orientation leaders take a breather from moving to bust some dance moves on Alumni Walk. From left, Rylee Eaton ’25 of Little Deer Isle, Me., Livia Bernhardt ’24 of Salisbury, Vt., Rosina Makwabe ’26 of Arusha, Tanzania, Verina Chatata ’26 of Lilongwe, Malawi, and Hope Stafford ’26 of Mountain View, Calif. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

10:54 a.m. A telling hug<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
\"Images
Phyllis Graber Jensen\/Bates College<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A fun fact about James Reese, who joined the Bates Student Affairs team in 1977, just after graduating from Middlebury College: some of the students he knew back in the 1970s now have grandchildren<\/em> at Bates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Which is to say that Reese, who came to Bates the same year Apple debuted the Apple II computer, knows a lot of alumni. Here, Reese greets Benny Bogyo \u201927 of Redwood City, Calif., the son of Matt Bogyo \u201993 and Becky Allen Bogyo \u201994. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We asked Reese to share what it feels like to observe a new generation of Bates students arriving with their alumni parents. This is what Reese said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Within the joy apparent in the graduate family, there is a noticeable rush, akin to a ripple or a wave \u2014 a flow of feelings and emotions that is quite detectable going back and forth when I meet grads who are dropping off their now college-aged children. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The younger family member shows a duality, facing a welcomed mystery in this place that they have heard so much about across their lives from the parent(s) and friends<\/em>.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The feeling from the parent(s) is palpable. Clearly the adult <\/em>really wanted the child to be here (often sharing with me their tough challenge of having to stay quiet while the decision was being made). The hug from the parent to me often feels like it contains the joy of the child’s decision<\/em>.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are smiles; postures of pride; and immense optimism about the learning, the experiences, the associations, and the discoveries that will come \u2014 all familial in a Bates way.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

11:05 a.m. Big day, big lift<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
\"Images
Phyllis Graber Jensen\/Bates College<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Andy Wilson of Medfield, Mass., hauls a mini fridge through Page Hall for his daughter Lara ’27.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

11:14 a.m. Words to live by<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
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Phyllis Graber Jensen\/Bates College<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Otis Caron ’24 of Lewiston, Maine, shows the tattoo he got to honor his late father, David, with an acronym for his dad’s advice, “think before you speak,” and the one got to honor his mom, Bates senior visual designer Tammy Caron, with a reminder of her advice: “Patience is a virtue.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The whole family turned out to help first-year student Ella move into her room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

11:17 a.m. Doggone great crew<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
\"Images
Phyllis Graber Jensen\/Bates College<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Visiting dogs get welcomed on Opening Day, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the lawn behind Page Hall, student Orientation leaders Wyatt Holder \u201926 of Wilmette, Ill., Chase Buzzell \u201925 of Saco, Maine, Ingrid Lam \u201926 of Portland, Ore., and Sofia Hahn \u201824 of Tuxedo Park, N.Y., welcome Hrothgar, named after the ruler of the Danes in the epic Beowulf, on campus with David Hermanson \u201927 of Cambridge, Mass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

11:35 a.m. The halls are alive<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
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Phyllis Graber Jensen\/Bates College<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In Gillespie Hall, Eric Preisig \u201927 of North Falmouth, Mass., takes a break from putting together his room to tune his cello. He\u2019s been playing for 12 years, and is excited to find places to play on campus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2:06 p.m. Sharing and caring<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

International first-years and their parents gather in the Fireside Lounge in Commons on Opening Day to listen to Reese explain how, as the associate dean of international student programs, he will watch over their children, help them in any way he can, and be a friend to them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

3:15 p.m. Welcome to Bates<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Phyllis Graber Jensen\/Bates College<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Bates’ newest families gather in front of Coram to hear welcomes from three college leaders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leigh Weisenburger, vice president for enrollment and dean of admission and financial aid, speaks of the pride she and her team felt in helping the new students find their college.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dean of Students Erin Foster Zsiga follows with warm words about entering a brand new community. \u201cBe kind to yourself, particularly when you may experience moments of self-doubt. It takes time to build your life in a new place. If no one has told you yet, let me be the first: You are here for a reason. You belong at Bates.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Garry W. Jenkins closed the afternoon welcome, telling the students, families, and loved ones that they are all joining a special, kind, and committed community. \u201cBe open to newness, find deeper connections with people whose experiences and backgrounds, and taste in music, may be different from yours,\u201d he said. \u201cI guarantee you, you’re going to be enriched by the process. My college friends are still among my closest friends and confidants in the world.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3:45 p.m. ‘It’s lived here’<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
\"Images
Phyllis Graber Jensen\/Bates College<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mya Hicks \u201827 leans on her mother, Monica Hicks, while sitting beside her dad, Tyrone Hicks. The family from Ann Arbor, Mich., was sad to say goodbye. But after hearing Jenkins’ remarks, Monica and Tyrone both said they knew their daughter was in a good place. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are super excited. We are a family of color and to have a president of color so interested in the students, the community, and in welcoming all sorts of people of different genders and races, it drives it home, he means it,\u201d Monica Hicks said of Jenkins\u2019 welcome. \u201cOther people say those things, but it\u2019s obvious it\u2019s lived here. You can see it on a college website but to be here and hear that, it is the culture here, it\u2019s important to know that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tyrone Hicks added: \u201cWhat resonates with me is that I had a college experience, but I never had a college community. That\u2019s what I want for my daughter. Everyone says this is a community.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3:55 p.m. Brotherly love<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
\"Images
Phyllis Graber Jensen\/Bates College<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Noah Faragher Houghton \u201827 and his 10-year-old brother, Arlo, of Monroe, Maine, had a tearful goodbye on the Historic Quad as Opening Day became a bittersweet closing. \u201cI\u2019m excited. And I\u2019m sad,\u201d Noah said. \u201cI\u2019m going to miss him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Noah tried to convince his younger brother that they wouldn\u2019t be that far away from each other. (Located 80 miles northeast of campus, Monroe is home to a population of 930 in Midcoast, Maine.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their mother, Kate Faragher Houghton \u201891, comforted Arlo as he teared up and hugged his brother. \u201cYou\u2019ll come visit,\u201d she told Arlo. \u201cYou\u2019ll lay on his bed like you did today. He\u2019s been a great brother. He\u2019s still a great brother. He\u2019ll still help show you the way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4:05 p.m. Farewell, but not goodbye<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
\"Images
Phyllis Graber Jensen\/Bates College<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Jake Podgurski \u201827 of Canton, Mass., didn\u2019t hold back his tears as he said goodbye to his mom, Lori Jablonski \u201888, who also was crying. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Jabolinski sat with her son, daughter, Liv Podgurski, and her ex-husband, Paul Podgurski, all sandwiched together on a bench by the Mouthpiece, Jablonski said they were united in their sadness as they said farewell to Jake, even though \u201cironically we\u2019re divorced.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re getting the band back together,\u201d Jake quipped. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Friendly and efficient, the Bates community turned out on Opening Day, Aug. 31, to help the members of the Class of 2027 get settled in their campus residences.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":148,"featured_media":156786,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_hide_ai_chatbot":false,"_ai_chatbot_style":"","associated_faculty":[],"_Page_Specific_Css":"","_bates_restrict_mod":false,"_table_of_contents_display":false,"_table_of_contents_location":"","_table_of_contents_disableSticky":false,"_is_featured":false,"footnotes":"","_bates_seo_meta_description":"","_bates_seo_block_robots":false,"_bates_seo_sharing_image_id":0,"_bates_seo_sharing_image_twitter_id":0,"_bates_seo_share_title":"","_bates_seo_canonical_overwrite":"","_bates_seo_twitter_template":""},"categories":[7,223,11012,11009],"tags":[12324,11392],"class_list":["post-156783","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-alumni","category-slideshow","category-student-life","category-the-college","tag-class-of-2027","tag-opening-day"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/156783","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/148"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=156783"}],"version-history":[{"count":73,"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/156783\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":157102,"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/156783\/revisions\/157102"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/156786"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=156783"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=156783"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=156783"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}