Whitman College
EN-2: Student Orientation

The 2019 Orientation schedule included the following sustainability-related activities:

RESIDENCE HALL MEETINGS AND ACTIVITIES, Residence Hall Sections and Main Lounges: New students will meet with their Resident Assistants, Student Academic Advisers and section mates. This session for new students will include an orientation to residence hall life as well as a discussion about living with roommates, followed by some fun hall activities. Come meet your new neighbors and your hall's staff! [RAs received an advance training on waste/recycling and the dining hall's reusable container system so they could discuss these topics with their residents during this time.]

HOME IN PÁSXAPA, Cordiner Hall: The Walla Walla Valley (Pásxapa) is home to Whitman College. Many different peoples call this place home alongside our faculty, staff and students. This session focuses on the history and heritage of the Walla Walla Valley from the perspective of the Native American Tribes, and the role of the missionaries Marcus and Narcissa Whitman. The session will give you a strong sense of your new home, and how the college's attitude toward the home it shares has changed over time.

FIRST FOODS DINNER, Memorial Front Lawn (Reid Campus Center in case of rain): Join us for a taste of a Native American First Foods meal.

EQUITY WORKSHOP: IDENTITY AND RACE, Reid Campus Center Ballroom: The staff of the Intercultural Center (IC) and Residence Life will talk about creating a community culture at Whitman that embraces and respects the intersections of multiple identities and developing a common language to talk about issues related to race, privilege, and difference. Through small group discussions we will develop an initial understanding of how identities are created and established, and the impact of interactions based on identities.

STUDENT ACTIVITIES FAIR, Cordiner Side Lawn: Representatives from various student clubs and organizations will provide information about getting involved at Whitman. Local businesses and organizations also will offer information about Walla Walla. [Sustainability-related student organizations and clubs actively participated.]

All incoming students receive a sustainable transportation guide and information about recycling in their orientation booklets. All incoming students receive a sustainable transportation guide in their orientation booklets. All students, faculty, and staff receive email letters shortly before the academic year begins that discourages bringing a car to campus and shares information about alternatives.