An essential introduction to campus life or high-spirited frivolous fun? What place does O-Week hold in student life?

O-Week 2008 was themed ‘Born in the 80s’, based on the knowledge that 2008 is the last year that first-year students at ANU will have been born in that decade. While staff tried to avoid calculating their difference in age, students indulged in everything from bar crawls to theatre sports.

First-year International Relations student Nina Gibson had her first taste of orientation with the ANUSA O-Week launch in Union Court on Monday. “It was pretty busy and lively with lots of ticket sales,” she said. “But people were really friendly and willing to help out which was great because that first day can be quite overwhelming.”

That night’s annual bar crawl was this year known as the Shooters Bright & Tight Big Night Out and embraced the 80s dress theme. “I went to Supré to buy my outfit that afternoon and it was full of uni students all buying the same clothes,” Nina said. “Everyone went all out.”

Market Day on Wednesday saw Union Court packed out with stalls of the various clubs and associations from sports through to student groups for specific degrees. Nina said she got some great advice from the International Affairs Association, down to which magazines she should subscribe to.

But in O-Week tradition, serious consideration of studies can only last so long and Thursday’s Fantasy Island event was the perfect distraction. “It was really well organized,” Nina said. “Everyone had to dress up as their ultimate fantasy and we all got taken on buses to Weston Park by the lake.”

Nina said she chose to space out the events she went to across the week and she missed out on the Buzz Monkey Carni Day, Politics in the Pub (featuring Maxine McKew, Mike Kelly and Tony Abbott), the Shooters Rubik’s Cube Party and the Mooseheads ANU Ball, among others.

But overall she said she got a good perspective on the uni lifestyle. “I met people from my course and got my bearings on campus. It was just a great way to meet new people and I think I’ll get involved with lots of activities.”

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