New Otago University students and staff are being encouraged to journey outside their comfort zones during Orientation this week.
Otago University Students' Association (OUSA) president Logan Edgar said Orientation 2012 had been a year in the planning and he hoped it would make those moving to Dunedin and its university feel welcomed.
Mr Edgar urges all Orientation participants to meet as many new people as possible and give everything on offer a go.
"Journey outside your comfort zone a bit and meet the people you will be spending your time at university with. Enjoy the week and get along to all the events at the stadium."
Orientation 2012 marks a few firsts in what is a yearly occurrence.
Mr Edgar said the use of Forsyth Barr Stadium as a venue "puts the event on a whole new scale".
Otago University has also joined forces with the OUSA for the first time to plan and implement the week of activities which, accordingly, will be attended by more staff than usual.
Mr Edgar said the move was positive because it would expose students to faculty faces and help them become familiar with all staff.
He expected most stadium events to sell out, citing the venue's 4500-person capacity for music acts.
"Hopefully, the weather holds out. We want people to look forward to more to come."
The campus liquor ban was not in place for last year's Orientation, although Mr Edgar said it was not likely to make any noticeable difference.
"You never saw students getting drunk or disorderly with a keg on the university lawn so there's going to be nothing out of the ordinary in terms of on-campus drinking."
Orientation events are open to the public for the first time, which Mr Edgar said should reinforce Dunedin's community feel.
"The local community wouldn't survive as it does without students and we wouldn't be able to study without the wider public. It's good to have a joint celebration of that partnership."
Old favourites including the toga party, hypnotist and comedy evening are back to delight and entertain, alongside new performances designed to cater for a wide range in tastes.
Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull said, "It's great to represent the wider Dunedin community in welcoming new arrivals to our city. I hope they will continue the long tradition of mutual affection and respect between Dunedin and its out of town students."
Orientation 2012: The Orientadium
Today
• All day: Tent city, museum lawn - featuring live music, entertainment, and "Fresher Comp".
• 11-3pm: Free bus tours of the city, leaving from museum.
• 1pm, 2-4pm: Unismart welcome NB-DCC/OUSA/UNI: Forsyth Barr Stadium, west stand.
• 7.30-9.30pm: Hypnotist Guy Cater - Forsyth Barr Stadium, west stand.
Tomorrow
• All day: Tent city, museum lawn - featuring live music, entertainment, and "Fresher Comp".
• 11-3pm: Free bus tours of the city, leaving from museum.
• 1.30pm: Sports day competition, Logan Park.
• 3-4.30pm: Speed Flatting competition - Unicol.
• 8-midnight: Dub my Toga party. Otago Daily Times stand, Forsyth Barr Stadium.
Wednesday
• All day: Tent city, museum lawn - featuring live music, entertainment, and "Fresher Comp".
• 9am-noon: International Orientation Lecture - St David Lecture Theatre.
• 10am-4pm: OUSA Clubs and Societies Day - Clubs and Socs Centre.
• 12.51pm: Christchurch earthquake memorial.
• 2-4pm: Study Smart for Locals.
• 8-10pm: Comedy - west stand, Forsyth Barr Stadium.
Thursday
• All day: Tent city, museum lawn - featuring live music, entertainment, and "Fresher Comp".
• 8pm-midnight: Converse Hip-Hop Party - east stand, Forsyth Barr Stadium.
Friday
• All day: Tent city, museum lawn - featuring live music, entertainment, and "Fresher Comp".
• 3-4.30pm: Speed Flatting competition - Unicol.
• 8pm-midnight: Shihad - east stand, Forsyth Barr Stadium.
Saturday
• 8pm-midnight: Shapeshifter - east stand, Forsyth Barr Stadium.
