Hamilton be prepared, O-week kicks off academic year

Whether it’s drinking every night, watching a Grammy-winning act at a music festival or competing in the hungry games, students are making their plans for O-week.

A pool party at the University of Waikato launched #ORI2015 celebrations yesterday and students crowded the area for chill time, bombing and Miss Pool Party competitions.

About five months of work went into planning the week-long introduction to uni life, Waikato Students’ Union president Shannon Stewart said.

‘‘It should be a really good week where basically we just welcome students to the university, show them who we are and make sure they get involved and get the most out of the university life,’’ she said.

About 3000 orientation packs includ-

Waikato University students kicked off Orientation Week with a pool party which included a bombing competition. ing free food and study items were also ready to be handed out to new students.

‘‘That’s really just our welcome and good luck getting through your first week.’’

The Bar 101 Pool Party was a proven crowd-pleaser which was why it remained on the activity list, she said.

New O-week activities included the hungry games, a competitive series of activities including the ‘‘waxing wheel of doom’’.

First-year student Isaac O’Rourke, 18, ‘‘got out of the big city’’ to study psychology and philosophy in Hamilton. And his plans for O-week were simple. ‘‘I was just going to go out seven nights in a row. I’ll try to drink every night,’’ he said.

Priya Parsat, 18, was planning to take it easy – ‘‘Go with the flow. We don’t really know what to expect.’’

She and Aucklander friend Bryony Large, 18, had already been kept busy with activities organised by their hall of residence.

That included an amazing race-style event and supporting the Chiefs when they beat the Crusaders on Saturday night.

Parsat and Large are both studying in the science area but were considering Students begin their tenure at Waikato University by mixing it up in the university pool. making music a part of their O-week experience.

‘‘We haven’t bought [Hullabaloo] tickets yet but we’re definitely considering it,’’ Large said.

The Hullabaloo Music Festival on Wednesday night is headlining with Grammy-winning electronic trio Nero.

The group will be one of eight acts in the festival, which is also open to the general public.

And while student union events are alcohol-free, Stewart said the group would be looking to reduce the risks for those heading out to town each night.

Students on their way in to party will be able to grab a bite at a sausage sizzle and then hop into a van to town.

It will also run students back to campus at the end of the night.

‘‘It’s basically just a way that we ensure that [the students] stay safe. They’re not walking home, they’re not hopping into cars that they shouldn’t, they’re not driving,’’ Stewart said.

‘‘It mitigates the nuisance to the community. You haven’t got students walking home being annoying, you haven’t got them smashing letterboxes and that sort of thing.’’

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libby.wilson@fairfaxmedia.co.nz