Be A Part From The Start

In the midst of moving in and adapting to campus life, Rollins students remained busy during the first week of school. Not only did professors jump right into their lessons, campus organizations such as Join Us in Making Progress (JUMP) and the Office of Student Involvement and Leadership (OSIL) arranged a busy week full of fun activities.

Despite the fact that it was only the first week of classes, the campus buzzed with excitement. Be a Part From the Start is a well-known Tar tradition that takes place during the first week of the fall semester. The week’s events ranged from fun activities such as Community Fest to academic activities including the education fair.

To kick off the week’s events, Saturday, Aug. 20 was deemed SPARC Day for the class of 2015. This year, SPARC, which stands for Service Philanthropy Activism Rollins College, brought first-years to numerous locations including Disney, Mead Garden, The Mustard Seed and A Gift for Teaching.

Each RCC class volunteered at a different organization, leaving a positive impact on the Central Florida community. With upperclassmen moving in while the first-years were off campus, the Rollins community began to come together once more for a school year full of community and campus involvement.

On the first day of classes, OSIL and JUMP hosted the Community Fest. Here, students were able to get henna tattoos, tie-dye shirts, and accumulate more free stuff! Overall, it was a way for students to escape their workload and enjoy a campus sponsored activity that brought the Rollins community closer.

As an attendee of the Community Fest, I experienced my first attempt at tie-dying a shirt, which turned out a lot better than I expected!

In addition to the education fair, a debate about The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks was planned for the week, but has been rescheduled for a later date not yet determined.

The book addresses important ethical issues in the medical field and the life of Henrietta Lacks, whose cells were taken without her knowledge in 1951 and have since become essential tools in medicine, though her family continues to struggle with health care.

For those looking to get even more involved on campus, the week rounded out with R Big Event. As a student, it is important to get involved in the Rollins community to truly understand and receive the college experience. While you do not have to attend every single campus event, attending a variety will not only tell you more about yourself but also keep you actively involved with other students and faculty members here at Rollins.