Another year starts for students
The orientation welcome mat is out in Palmerston North as students flood back into the city.
Massey University and UCOL started their orientation this week as students prepare for another year of study.
Both tertiary institutions had official welcomes on Monday and there is no shortage of events at the start of semester.
UCOL student president Karla Davis said the polytech wanted to welcome new and returning students on to campus.
‘‘We’re trying to make a community feel and make everyone feel welcome so they know you can come to this place for this service or you can go here.
‘‘We’re offering them all the services in the community they can access. It’s a welcome get together week running across all four campuses.’’
Massey University Students’ Association president Michael Salmon said students were trickling in through the week going to the MUSA events.
There was a pool party at the Lido on Wednesday and its comedy fest, featuring Guy Williams, was held yesterday.
There is an op shop ball tonight, then students will be donning their bedsheets for the toga party tomorrow, where drum and bass group State of Mind is playing.
There is a clubs day and market day on Wednesday.
Salmon said the association encouraged students to be responsible if drinking alcohol and told people to be safe.
It held a sexual health and consent day on Tuesday.
This year the Otago University Students’ Association, along with with Knowyourstuffnz and New Zealand Drug Foundation, announced that drug checks, allowing students to check substances they intended to take, would be available.
Salmon said that wasn’t something that had come up for MUSA, but if the need was identified at Massey, he was open to the idea.
UCOL hosted its Takaro club and sports day on Tuesday, and a market day on Wednesday .
Yesterday was student success day, where all the internal services were on display, and the week finishes with a bring-yourown-lunch chill out day.