On Sept. 5, the Tl’etl’axel: Student Orientation Day ONE took place on the Abbotsford campus Green from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. New UFV students had the opportunity to tour the grounds and learn about different programs, clubs, and services provided at the university. To liven things up and create a welcoming atmosphere, the school provided music and games during the event, and arranged for food trucks to park on-site to feed the hungry crowds.
Tl’etl’axel was a chance for UFV’s various student organizations to set up tables outside and interact with new and returning students. The Cascade was on-site, stationed between CIVL Radio and the UFV Pride Collective.
One of the groups with a table at the event was the Wildlife Protection Club, which was restructured this year to offer more opportunities for students. “We can accommodate more people now that we’re reorganized,” said Raj Gupta, a student member of the club. The Wildlife Protection Club gives students an opportunity to work together to practice sustainability in their own lives, as well as build connections to help promote conservation through club-organized events. Interested students can find the Wildlife Protection Club on Instagram and Qpay.
The UFV Debate Club was also present. Debate gives students the opportunity to hone their persuasive speaking skills, and to voice their opinions and arguments effectively. Those looking to build up their confidence would benefit from looking into the Debate Club. President Ella Duncan is leading the effort to bring her club back after a long hiatus. “It was a club that was here right before COVID-19,” said Duncan, “and then the pandemic kinda wiped it out, so we’re trying to bring it back.” The club has two types of memberships: one for those looking to join the fray and get involved with the debate team, and an option for people who just want to spectate and support the team.
For students who want an opportunity to get out on the water, the Rowing Club is another organization returning to pre-pandemic form. The club’s coach, Lisa Roman, has recently come back from winning a gold medal in rowing at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics. “We are working on becoming a varsity team here,” said team member Rebecca Stokes. The team prefers real experience in the water, as opposed to training indoors on machines. “We try to avoid the machines as much as possible,” said Stokes. Rowing club members train in team configurations ranging from singles and doubles, to up to eight rowers at a time.
Ultimately, Tl’etl’axel demonstrated that there’s much more to the university experience than studying, and that no matter what your hobbies, interests, or passions, there’s a community for you at UFV. You can find a list of student organizations to enrich your university experience at www.ufv.ca/current-students/mycampuslife/find-events/.
