Colleges, frosh bosses, and administration hard at work extending Frosh Week 2011

Samantha Osaduke
Contributor
Entertainment, orientation, and the right leadership can make or break York’s Frosh Week, and college councils are working overtime to make sure it is a success.
Frosh Week 2011 has been extended from the traditional seven-day week to 11 days, lasting from September 2 to September 11. The extension was made to incorporate the “Can I Kiss You?” program — a safe dating and sexual consent awareness presentation — as well as to provide college councils an adequate amount of time to hold traditional social orientation events.
“It means a very busy and taxing 10 days [for frosh bosses], but they are up for the challenge,” explains Ian Crookshank, assistant director of residence life. “It was the idea of student leaders who felt the shorter week simply wasn’t long enough, and that an extension would be in the best interest of students.”
The frosh bosses, who are selected and recruited by each individual college council, are chosen based on a combination of skills including leadership and mentorship as well as some unorthodox performances.
“I had to stand up in front of the panel and cheer!” exclaims second-year frosh boss América Carnevale, who says she was also given hypothetical situations to resolve. “It was very, very intimidating.”
After being selected, candidates are given extensive training through scenarios and role-playing, and are given sessions on inclusivity and anti-oppression as well as sexual assault and harassment.
“Our topics included ‘How to interact with first-year students,’ ‘Residence move-in,’ ‘Responding to various crises,’ and others,” says Crookshank.
Though the extended events run into September 7 when fall semester classes begin, they were accepted on the grounds that they will not interfere with classes or attendance.
“Orientation chairs and [college] presidents put in countless hours to create a week that will entertain but also adjust students to York and university life,” says Crookshank.