Contact:
Mike Peragine, student success (Bby), 778.782.5399; michelep@sfu.ca
Candy Ho, student life (Surrey), 778.782.7407; candyh@sfu.ca
Marianne Meadahl, PAMR, 778.782 9017; Marianne_Meadahl@sfu.ca


The countdown to school will start with a bang for several hundred new Simon Fraser University students attending orientation sessions at SFU. Activities are planned at all three three campuses this week.

The beating of drums will signal the start of Fall Orientation at the Surrey campus on Aug. 29 at 10:30 a.m. – with nearly 400 students gathering in a mass drum café in the Mezzanine.

The drums will also be heard the next day (Aug. 30) on the Burnaby campus as more than 1,700 new students attending over the two days join in one of four sessions in Convocation Mall (9:30, 10:30, 1:30 and 2:30 p.m.).

The drum cafés – which make for great visuals – are a popular addition to SFU’s orientation programs and provide a means to melt away anxiety and get students “all on the same page,” organizers say.

Among other highlights is the Mother of All Ice Breakers, an event designed to spark spontaneous interaction among students. Featuring a theme of superheroes in Burnaby and music across the decades in Surrey (both, complete with costumes), the ice-breaking starts things off in Burnaby on Aug. 29 at 9:30 a.m. in Convocation Mall and begins the second day (Aug. 30) in Surrey.

Orientation is also being held for the first time at the Vancouver campus and will involve about 50 new students in tours, workshops and information sessions, all part of the orientation programs at each of the other campuses.

SFU President Andrew Petter is expected to attend the orientation openings on the morning of Aug. 29 in Burnaby followed by Surrey and will stay for Surrey’s drum café.

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