TRAVIS WEAGANT
<Editor-in-Chief>
1Ls and other incoming students arrived on August 29th this year, earlier than last. The early arrival was to facilitate an Orientation Week unencumbered by classes, since such things inevitably awaken a penetrating keenness in law students, a keenness that has, in past years, depressed attendance at certain O-Week events. While the incoming students’ enthusiasm for learning was not to be defeated, the new format made for a whirlwind week that left many, if not all, energized for a stellar year at Osgoode.
Adam Del Gobbo, Orientation Committee Chair and generally known to be the man behind O-Week 2013, has 6 years of experience as a participant or leader in orientation activities, but this was his first year as an organizer. Asked to comment on how things look from the O-Committee’s point of view, he said: “This was a very different experience but in the end I think a more rewarding one when everything came together during the week.”
Del Gobbo is confident that this year’s Game of Thrones-themed week went smoothly. He states: “judging by the number of registrants, numbers participating in the programming, and the feedback I’ve gotten and continue to get, I think the week went extremely well,” adding: “don’t mind me tooting my own Horn of Jaramun here.”
Indeed, this year’s event turned out 293 registrants, 43 more than 2012. Del Gobbo is unsure whether the early start was responsible: “I’m not sure if [the improved turnout is] because of the new dates; I think it’s likely because we were better at disseminating information.”
Adam was joined by a large and competent O-Committee, comprised of Vice-Chairs Lisa Durnford and Steven Broadley. Crossing over from L&L were President Dylan McGuinty, Social Convener Alex Payne, VP Internal Douglas Judson and Treasurer Waleed Malik. The indispensable Events Team: Sarah Munkittrick, David Nisker, Florence Sze, Eman Khoshbin, Jamie Walker and Nicole Veitch. Sylvia Guirguis, Mitchell Rattner and Petter Hurich were the logistics wizards, and Hurich deserves a case of Blue Star for repeatedly straightening out the bus transportation provider. Lucy Li
This year’s agenda comprised some classics from past years, including trivia night, the pub crawl, and graffiti bowling. A new addition was a karaoke night, held at the Fox and Fiddle Yorkville, where the four 1L sections vied for the all-Osgoode singing crown, which Section C ultimately captured. Del Gobbo remarked that the event “went off without a hitch,” and wishes to give “special recognition to the girl in 1L who ripped her pants while twerking on stage.”u oversaw finances; Jon Silver and Laura Wilson took care of the Spirit and Leadership portfolio, and Harjot Atwal and Trevor Moum looked after securing sponsorship from the week’s many benefactors. Last but not least, the Obiter’s own Marie Park sketched this year’s section crests, which were so prodigiously creative that we might have to start paying her.
The Obiter Dicta would be remiss if it did not also acknowledge a certain Section A leader who “twore” his pants at the Welcome Gala the following Saturday.
The week was not without its snags. Del Gobbo recalls that the first day of the week was “the most stressful overall,” citing delays in registration, a mismanaged BBQ, and an unidentified individual at the bus company with their head implanted steadfastly in their ass.
Nevertheless, Del Gobbo has an orientation spidey sense, and he “knew it would be relatively smooth sailing for the rest.”
Together, trivia night, karaoke, the pub crawl and bowling capped four jam packed days from August 29 to September 1. The afternoons preceding these events also held their share of excitement, sending incoming students on a scavenger hunt around the barren York University wasteland; into the grand avenues of Bloor West in an attempt to trade up dollar store merchandise for the biggest and best material goods possible, and finally to the fields beside Osgoode Chambers for spirited sports and games.
New to this year’s games repertoire was the thematically-appropriate jousting, in which smaller students sit atop a sturdier partner, armed only with a pool noodle dipped in waterbased paint. The pairs galloped toward the centre of the arena, each attempting to spear the other rider and mark them with a section colour not their own. When asked if he learned anything at all in his first-year Torts class, Del Gobbo dismissed the question, calling it “another discussion for another day,” and mumbled something about waivers.
The excitement was palpable, and a couple of tumbles only added to the crowd’s enthusiasm. The very picture of sportsmanship, Adam DiSimine of the Section D Starks simply smiled after receiving a noodleful of Lannister red to his face and teeth from Roop Dhillon of Section A, who was perched atop noble steed Zack Garcia.
Given the holiday Monday to recuperate, Orientation returned from September 3-6, introducing incoming students to Osgoode’s enthusiasm for board games, BBQs, and its clubs, including the faithful Obiter Dicta. Friday night nearly ended in disappointment as an administrative misstep left the Moot Court unavailable for a low-key movie night. Luckily, a flash of law school resourcefulness produced an intimate screening of The Dark Knight in the Owl’s Nest.
Saturday saw leaders and incoming students alike discover that Ozzies are a good-looking bunch when they trade in their section t-shirts for jackets, ties, and dresses. This year’s Dean’s Welcome Gala was held at the Ontario Bar Association-owned venue at Twenty Toronto Street. After a welcome message from Dean Sossin, each section successively tore up the dance floor in a last effort to bring home bragging rights and the newly minted – and suitably hefty – Spirit Cup.
Before the presentation of the ultimate honour, the four sections’ leaders bestowed MDC gift cards and their praise upon the incoming students they felt best exemplified the O-Week spirit. Section A Lannister winners were 1L Abigail Cheung and Dutch exchange student Imran Hyder, who, as you may expect, always settle their tabs. The Section B Baratheons honoured Ryan Robski and Mykim Truong , though it is possible they were not previously aware that they were Baratheons at all. The Section C Greyjoys recognized Melissa George and Sandy Hayne as true ironborn, and the Section D Starks proclaimed Ladi Onayemi and Danielle Knight to be virtuous beyond any other in Westeros.
Likewise, incoming students nominated those leaders that they felt had exemplified the same spirited quality. Though she demonstrated no particular proficiency at controlling dragons, the O-Committee Targaryens paid homage to Florence Sze. Baratheon Robyn Blumberg took home some free textbooks. The Greyjoys’ inimitable Steven Holm and David Major of the House Stark were also honoured. Section A chose to reward… er, well… this is awkward…
In the end, it was the Lannisters’ lion-inspired routine – spanning a Disney soundtrack, 70s funk, and Katy Perry – that allowed Section A to twerk their way to the Spirit Cup. The rest of the night was thick with revelry, much of it consumed directly from the Cup itself. It will need to be washed.