Welcome to Monmouth!

By: Johnathan Skidmore
Copy/Layout Editor

Monmouth College experienced a dramatic increase in enrollment this August as more than 400 new freshmen and transfer students arrived on campus, ready to start the year. The Matriculation Ceremony for these new students commenced on Saturday, Aug. 26, outside Wallace Hall , where it traditionally occurs. This year, each student received a gold coin in a tradition which was instituted just last year by President Ditzler. Contrary to the popular belief held by upperclassmen who were not involved with this new event, the coins aren’t specially minted by Monmouth College, but rather are gold alloy Sacagawea coins, according to director of college communications Jeff Rankin. The student then keeps that coin in his or her possession as a way to “link classes from year to year, link current students to alumni and help strengthen the commonality between matriculation and commencement ceremonies,” according to Rankin.

These newly matriculated students then underwent the Freshmen Orientation program. These programs split the students up into smaller groups where they got to know each other and got a better grasp of the campus layout. Freshman John Kaiser speaks on his orientation experience, stating, “When I first arrived on move-in day, I couldn’t wait for my college life to finally begin… Vanessa, our orientation leader, really helped in getting us all acquainted and… showing us the ropes.” Orientation leader Vanessa Schumacher mentioned that she was “pretty nervous about having my own group of about 17 freshmen, but once things got started, it all came  together.”

Another tradition for new students that occurred recently was the Freshman Walkout. This tradition began in “the very early years of the 20th century” and was created to “introduce members of the freshman class to each other, as well as create bonds,” states Rankin. For a period between 1972 and 1995 this tradition stopped, but was resurrected by President Sue Huseman, who also brought back the Pipe Band at approximately the same time, according to Rankin. The Freshman Walkout is usually well-received by the new students, as they are given many free items, food and coupons. Freshman Dave McCallister states, “It was definitely a memorable experience for me and made me actually feel welcome in this city. I’m from Chicago, so it definitely was a different feeling to have everyone from the town welcoming me with open arms.”