Frosh week is a crash course in everything U of T. It’s a chance for new students, traditionally referred to throughout the week as “froshies,” to acclimatize to their new home, and old students to welcome newcomers by attempting to relive the frosh experience. U of T boasts more than 10 froshes, which operate largely independent of one another. Here are some of the largest froshes being prepared for this September:
UTSU (University of Toronto Students’ Union)
Theme: UTSU Fest | Website
All U of T students are welcome at UTSU’s frosh week events. As with past years, events include a chance to see over 300 U of T clubs at the Clubs Fair, a concert by a to-be-disclosed artist, as well as a street festival during the first week of class. There will be no shortage of social outlets for new students, who can choose to attend an after-party at Guvernment nightclub, or an alternative after-party on Front Campus. New students will get a taste of school spirit at the Homecoming event, where our football team, the Varsity Blues, will take on the Guelph Gryphons.
New College
Theme: Zombies — Don’t Panic, Get Prepared | Website
PHOTO COURTESY NEW COLLEGE STUDENT COUNCIL
The focus of this year’s New College frosh is to safeguard each new student against becoming a “U of T zombie.” The week is designed to encourage students to build up social and academic support systems. Froshies will be grouped by area of academic interest, residence status, and approximate location to help ensure that they keep the friends they make during frosh week. Tour leaders will host campus tours customized to the needs of their group. Teams of zombies and humans will compete to convert one another to their side during an outdoor game called “Hunt for the Cure.” Froshies will also attend a showcase of fifteen different university majors at Gerstein Library, to help them choose the best academic path. In addition, a feast followed by festivities and dancing, held at New College itself, will introduce everyone to their “New” home.
University College (UC)
PHOTO COURTESY UCLIT
Theme: The UC Knight’s Tale | Website
This year, inspired by their castle-like main building, University College’s frosh has a medieval theme. Froshies can expect a week filled with magic, gryphons, and knights in shining armour. Students will “Bring It On” in a week-long spirit event, where they will be divided into 15 houses and go head-to-head in the ultimate cheer showdown. Magical guests, including Gabriello the Hypnotist, will grace the stage at UC’s Frosh. In addition, students will have an opportunity to tour campus, and have their questions about majors and courses answered by upper-year students.
St. Michael’s College (SMC)
BERNARDA GOSPIC/THE VARSITY
Theme: ‘Toon in SMC! | Website
St. Mike’s is celebrating the wide and wonderful world of cartoons in this year’s frosh week. Featured events include an outing to the Toronto Argonauts Game, and a cartoon Indy race, where students will have a chance to race their cardboard “car” creations against other frosh groups. A clubs fair and carnival will host all SMC-based clubs, as well as some university-based groups. The fair will happen alongside inflatable courses, a riding bull, and the ever-essential carnival cotton candy. An open mic event will give SMC students a stage to showcase their talents. For those whose talents include dancing, a night of dancing on the water at the SMC boat cruise will be a highlight of the week.
Victoria University
Theme: Undisclosed | Website
Though the exact theme has yet to be disclosed, Victoria University’s frosh includes a wide range of academic, transition-oriented, social, and alternative activities. On the social side, Old Vic will be converted to a scene from Casino Royale and play host to a much-anticipated Casino Night. The off-campus Scarlet & Gold party, Wacky Tacky Boat Cruise, open mic event, and closing ceremonies are among the events designed to ease the transition of new students into life at university. Commuter students will have multiple opportunities to integrate into the U of T community, with flexible hours for events, storage space, and commuter-specific events such as Commuter Orientation. During orientation, commuter students are invited to stay at residence and attend workshops, a guest lecture, and other of social events. An announcement of this year’s frosh theme is expected shortly.
Innis College
Theme: Heroes vs. Villains — Who Will WInnis? | Website
Innis frosh coordinators are keeping the details of their frosh events somewhat of a mystery, leaving riddles for frosh groups to guess what the events are. That said, here’s the scoop on some events that are definitely happening. There will be a boat cruise across Lake Ontario, held on a multi- level cruise ship. With different events on each level, everyone is sure to find something to do. For the brave, a hypnotist show will have froshies and frosh leaders getting hypnotized in front of their peers. Academic events are also sure to occur during the week. Stay tuned to Innis College’s website for more details on events.
Trinity College
Theme: Yours to Discover | Website
A play on Ontario license plates, Trinity College’s frosh aims to guide students to discover whatever they like about Trinity and the wider U of T community. The week will consist of a variety of “high energy” and “low energy” events, in order to make sure that students can customize their week to best suit their individual interests. Among the highlights are an intercollegiate Trinity and Innis (“Trinnis”) paint party, a carnival on the Trinity backfield, a toga party, and a day of games on the Toronto Island. Trinity will continue the tradition of hosting two formal dinners — the Dean’s Dinner and the Provost’s Dinner. Trinity will also host informative sessions such as academic orientation, student life workshops, and “Trin101.” Non-resident students will have the opportunity to stay on residence for the week and bunk with a resident buddy. (Many other colleges have similar programs – check their websites for more information).
Woodsworth College
Theme: One Love Woodsworth | Website
In keeping with past years, Woodsworth’s frosh will be hosting its traditional quad party, complete with a jumping castle, various activity stations, and snow cones. Other opportunities for froshies to socialize include a club night at the Guvernment, an outing to the Toronto Argonauts game, a pep rally, and a trip to the Toronto Island. An “Amazing Race” event will have students in friendly competition with other frosh groups around campus. A casino-themed boat cruise will finish the week. Woodsworth will also involve WOLF (Woodsworth Orientation for Life after Frosh) in its frosh program, which will help prepare new students for their first year with a number of academic-oriented programs, including workshops on essay writing, note-taking, and reading.
Faculty of Engineering
Theme: Pixar | Website
In keeping with a time-honoured tradition, this year’s f!rosh week engineers and their “leedurs” will parade through the streets of downtown Toronto decked out in purple dye. The week’s events will feature an outdoor frosh Olympics, a Clubs Fair, a camping trip to the Hart House farm, and a unique “Havenger Scunt” (that is not a misprint). Froshies will have the opportunity to show off their engineering skill in the Blue & Gold Bed Races, where they will build a vehicle that resembles a bed and race it against teams from colleges. The week’s events also include academic training, like a tutorial for the Engineering Entrance Aptitude Test.
Muslim Students’ Association (MSA)
The MSA is looking forward to hosting many Muslim students during its frosh week festivities. The first main event will be the “Amazing Race,” where students will follow a series of riddles/clues around campus. The first team to collect all the clues and arrive at the finish line will win a grand prize. Other featured events are an obstacle course, a dodgeball tournament, a BBQ, a visit to Toronto’s Centre Island, and a ”charade-off.”
