From action day to creative play: First-week orientation events welcome students back to campus
A recap of the UTMSU’s movie-themed orientation and The Medium’s newsletter studio competition.

The UTM Students’ Union (UTMSU) Orientation was held from September 4 to September 11. On September 7, The Medium also held a Newsletter Studio orientation event. 

UTMSU Orientation 

In this movie-themed orientation, students had the chance to fight for the Championship Cup with one of the four houses of their choice—Allure, Rodeo, Nocturne, or Chrome. Students got to cheer, dance, and embody the unique identities represented by each home, ranging from Hollywood glamour to science fiction.

Event programming also included Blackout Bingo with the Centre for Student Engagement, a Student Centre After Party, and an Action Day with the UTM Athletic Council. O-week concluded with a movie screening of White Chicks, a Premiere Night, and for the first time, a free Paint and Glow. 

The first few days featured activities hosted by each house, giving students the opportunity to get to know their teammates while competing and collaborating along the way. From testing their problem-solving skills to inspiring creativity, each activity offered a different way for students to connect and create a community.

On Action Day, students came together for a series of athletic challenges and races. They competed for points and cheered on their teams from the sidelines. By the end of the day, Allure emerged victorious and took home the Championship Cup.

As a recognizable face and voice throughout the events, UTMSU Vice President Campus Life Lois Ogunnubi contributed much to the energetic orientation week. She brought much enthusiasm and memorable dance moves to Blackout Bingo and Action Day.

In an interview with The Medium, UTMSU Vice-President External Rajas Dhamija shared that the energy seen throughout the orientation was the result of considerable work behind the scenes. “On behalf of the UTMSU, we were glad about how the orientation turned out. It took a lot of hard work and dedication. But thanks to all the help from the volunteers and orientation leaders, we brought all our ideas to life,” he said.

The Medium’s Newsletter Studio

The Medium’s orientation event created a similar environment of friendly competition for students.

Students were given a blank sheet of paper to fill with ideas inspired by their summer. Over the course of a few hours, blank pages transformed into colourful sketches, designs, and personal reflections. 

Students submitted their custom work for a chance to win The Medium’s contest and have their artwork displayed in an upcoming issue. The winner also receives a UTM Bookstore gift card.

For Rojin Hajiabbasali, one of The Medium’s outreach coordinators, the activity was about creating a space where students could experiment with their creativity while getting to know the publication. 

“Our objective through our orientation event is to give students a quiet space to challenge their creativity,” Hajiabbasali said. The event also served as an invitation for students to contribute to The Medium and become a member of its community. 

Rameen Hashmi, The Medium’s other outreach coordinator, emphasized that the event was not simply about producing something that looked good on paper. Both Hajiabbasali and Hashmi explained that writing can become a reflection of the person behind it. 

“Writing is more than just putting words on paper,” Hashmi shared. “It’s a reflective piece, a thoughtful piece, and a piece that speaks about you as a person.”

The Medium’s orientation also encouraged students to embrace the freedom to decide what comes next. 

This approach complemented the UTMSU’s orientation. Both created opportunities for students to meet people, explore new interests, and discover a community beyond their classrooms. 

Orientation may only last a week, but the connections it cultivates can become part of students’ university experience long after the events end. 

Students can also look forward to the UTMSU’s upcoming annual boat cruise on September 16, which offers an evening of food and opportunities to dance among the views of the Toronto Harbour. Students can keep up with future social events by The Medium on their Instagram @themedium.publications.