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(09/28/07 4:00am)
A year after stepping onto UNC's campus, sophomores are being invited to reorient themselves through a new student government-sponsored initiative.
Sophomore Reorientation is aimed at sophomores who want help gaining a better understanding of what services and programs are available through the University.
"It's a chance for any student to take more of an in-depth look at what Carolina has to offer," said Katie Sue Zellner, executive branch chief of staff.
All students on campus are welcome to attend the event, though it is focused on helping sophomores.
The day will kick off at 11 a.m. today in the Student Union's multipurpose room. Several 25-minute sessions will be held throughout the day, and at 4 p.m. there will be a closing meeting, where students will have one last chance to see all of the organizations.
Sessions will feature presentations by groups from all areas of campus, such as the Study Abroad Office, student government and academic advising. Several schools, such as the Kenan-Flagler Business School, the School of Nursing and the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, will hold workshops for attending students.
"We expect a fairly large event," said Bob Miles, associate dean for study abroad and international exchanges. "We wanted to be involved in this."
Many of the groups that will be present today are featured at C-TOPS, but Sophomore Reorientation is intended to give sophomores a chance to pursue more specific interests after having a year to get acclimated.
"A lot of sophomores feel like they are unsure of what they should be doing and what they can be doing," said Justin Singer, co-chairman of the executive branch's student life committee.
Sophomore Reorientation was a major platform point for Student Body President Eve Carson during the spring election.
The Carson administration worked on the project throughout the summer, as the first of its kind.
Student government officials will be in the Student Union throughout the day directing students to the different programs and overseeing the day's events.
For sophomore Tiffany Buckley, the reorientation is an opportunity to get in touch with an organization that can help her travel. She plans to study abroad in the summer or fall of next year.
"There are a lot of programs out there that I didn't know about," Buckley said.
Reorientation is a program that is needed, Buckley said, adding that it will give her an opportunity to learn more about different services on campus.
"A lot of us thought we knew what was going on," she said. "But we really don't."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(09/21/07 4:00am)
For high school senior Kapherine Perez, the UNC Scholars' Latino Initiative helped create a lasting bond with the University.
The four-year-old SLI program pairs UNC sophomores with college-bound Hispanic students from Jordan Matthews High School in Siler City.
"To me, it's the only way I can go to college," Perez said.
Mentors work with the same high school student for three years in an effort to foster a meaningful relationship - helping mentees with SAT preparation, college applications and college essays and involving them in coordinated social events on UNC's campus.
Perez said a one-year relationship with her mentor would have been good but not as effective as the three years she has spent with SLI.
The program benefits mentors, too. Jane Cook, a sophomore mentor, said that by working with Siler City students, she's been able to understand the challenges facing immigrants.
"It's important to open college as an opportunity for Hispanic high school students," said Cook, who joined the group a year ago and is now Perez's mentor.
Thirty-one percent of the students at Jordan Matthews High are Hispanic - higher than the 10 percent average in N.C. schools.
"A lot of them don't see college as an option - it's important to have someone else there," said Andrea Sorce, a junior and mentor who is the public service committee chairwoman for SLI.
"It's not a huge commitment. It's intimidating, but definitely possible," Sorce said, noting that Spanish skills are not a requirement to work with the program.
The Campus Y's Big Buddy program is another mentoring group that allows UNC students to mentor children at Estes Hills and Frank Porter Graham elementary schools.
The program is the result of a partnership started in 2003 with Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Triangle. About 250 UNC mentors spend one to two hours a week with their students through Big Buddy.
"It's a minimal commitment, but it makes a huge difference," sophomore Katherine Wilkinson said.
Anyone interested in SLI should check out a fall fiesta at the FedEx Global Education Center from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. today.
SLI normally accepts eight to 10 students for the program, but Peter Kaufman, SLI faculty coordinator and founder, said that if the high school accepts more students, SLI will accept more mentors.
The number of applicants has grown each year, and Sorce said the group expects 25 applicants for this year. Applications are due Sept. 24 to uncsli@unc.edu.
"Mentoring is the perfect way to stay involved in the community, Sorce said. "
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.