Miscellaneous

ArchFOC: Greetings New Archies!

Note: This article is hosted here for archival purposes only. It does not necessarily represent the values of the Iron Warrior or Waterloo Engineering Society in the present day.

This week will be an epic journey through Architecture and Engineering, a Journey Into Space, navigating across far-flung galaxies and worlds, and a Battle of the Ages between past legends and future upstart heroes.

During Orientation Week, you’ll meet students in your program and faculty, explore both the Cambridge and Waterloo campuses, release creative energy, earn your first hard hat, and receive your drafting kit. We’re taking a three-pronged approach to Orientation — the City of Cambridge, university life in general, and Waterloo Architecture in particular.

If you’re reading this, you’ve probably received your Orientation kit. Dig through it and take a look at all your new stuff! It’s just a sneak peak of what’s going on this week and for the rest of the year.

We’re kicking off on Monday at the school with registration and introductions. You’re going to meet your future classmates! Soon after you’ll meet your leaders, the Bigs and Huges, who will be with you throughout Orientation week and the fall term. Most of your leaders are second-year students who were in your shoes last year, and are there to answer any and all questions you may have about university life. Later on we’ll play games in Victoria Park and race cardboard chariots around the school.

On Tuesday, we’re making our way up to Waterloo to join the rest of the Faculty of Engineering. To spot Engineering amongst other faculties’ Orientations, look past the brightly colored t-shirts and look for purple-dyed skin. We’re going to take part in the Engineering tradition of earning our hardhats. You will get your yellow hardhats, and watch your leaders earn their green and red ones.

Wednesday will be focused on acquainting you with Waterloo Architecture and its surrounding neighborhood. You’ll meet your 1A professors and Cambridge’s mayor before embarking on the Great Galt Adventure scavenger hunt. In the evening, it’s time to relive Art Attack with a flurry of glue and paint at Art Night.

On Thursday, we’ll jump right back into Waterloo Engineering. You’ll have the opportunity to show off your design skills at Junkyard Wars, where you’ll help build a series of contraptions to impress EDCOM. When you participate in m.ARCH, you’ll see how we plan on leaving your mark on main campus.

Back in Cambridge on Friday, we’ll get you ready for school — school keys and studio set up. Getting your drafting kit is going to feel like the holidays!

Saturday will wrap up the week with the Black & Gold varsity soccer game, our Final Feast, and Toga Party to top it all off.

As the Architecture Federation Orientation Committee (ArchFOC) and your HighArchs on EngFOC, we’re here to help make this week as worthwhile as possible. Getting adjusted to life in Cambridge is both exciting and challenging. As you and your classmates begin shuttling around this week, we hope to acclimate you as best — and as quickly — as possible. If you have any questions, feel free to stop us or any yellow jackets.

We hope you’re geared up for the adventure that is Orientation Week!

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