Despite the two people we had to let go, the entire orientation staff put forth everything they possibly could.  Nevertheless, there was some force inside us all that said “Let’s put on the best show we could possibly put on!”  We had people push themselves past their physical and emotional limits as we helped this last group better understand UT and pick their first classes despite the competition from upperclassmen and orientees from previous sessions.  The shows we put on were particularly good and full of unexpected lines despite our supervisors’ advice against ad-libbing.  I was one of the guilty ones as I tacked on a little bit of drama at the end of my part.

I have always loved working registration for the Cockrell School of Engineering, and this week was no different.  My feat of the week came when someone showed clear signs of losing her composure because she was unable to register for one of the classes she needed.  I looked in the course schedule to see what I could do.  I saw a section open and added her right into it.  Not only was she very happy, but she learned what to do when bad things happen: Keep your cool.

“Follies” is a time for the staff to say goodbye and to make light of each other’s ways, give/get unofficial awards, and for returning orientation advisors to exchange gifts.  After a spell of laughter came a lot of hugging and crying.  This all-nighter was not a good idea because the deadline to move out is at noon.  Thank goodness I packed!

Although I got two weeks behind my posting, the fifth session is still fresh on my mind as I have taken notes of the things that happened.  The two casts Social Justice created came in handy because my counterpart called into Fishbowl sick and asked me to take over.  Before someone’s monologue, a random orientee stood up and gave his own monologue about how none of the identities applied toward him, how the program should be optional, and asked whether he can go home.  Nearly everybody (including myself) were not savvy to having our parade rained on like this — we thought it was extremely disrespectful.  Nevertheless, it sparked up some interesting discussion.  In my session, someone said that if one has the right to speech, he/she has the right to not exercise that right.  The next day, the supervisors held an emergency staff meeting to say that the orientee has been dealt with accordingly and reframed the situation: People like these are the people who need it most.

As I may have mentioned earlier, we orientation advisors help the first-year students choose their first semester’s classes.  This process is known as pre-advising because they will see a real advisor later.  During this, College of Liberal Arts pre-advisors are asked to take a tally of how many students want to transfer into another college.  In a turn of events, I had two orientees wishing to transfer: one to business and another to psychology.

On Friday night, the supervisors put on a banquet to show their appreciation for the work we did and to recognize some outstanding orientation advisors.  One nomination read something like, “This person eats, lives, breathes, sleeps orientation.”  In my mind, I thought, “That ain’t me — I sleep between my duties;” but to my surprise, that person was me.  Gee… I wish I could stay awake for even longer periods of time with as little caffeine as possible.

As of Ubuntu 7.04 (Feisty Fawn), the distribution featured something known as “Restricted Drivers Manager” to appease open-source purists who basically believe that anything closed-source is bad.  I believe that this could not be further from the truth.  I believe that being open means:

• Creating a better alternative for cheaper
• Presenting all the choices to the end-user
• Being willing to meet other vendors halfway
• Enabling the end-user to pick and choose a solution that would work for him/her.

From making mistakes installing the nVidia graphics card drivers on my computer numerous times, I have finally learned the magic sequence to do things without ever touching the Restricted Drivers Manager.  I call it the 10-Step Program to 3D Acceleration:

1. Install OS
2. Update.  If there is no kernel update, skip to Step 6
3. Reboot (into the new kernel, obviously)
4. Uninstall everything that has to do with the old kernel, install build-essential
   
5. Reboot
6. Install graphics drivers and configure accordingly
7. Reboot
8. Test 3D acceleration
9. Install programs
10. Restore files (if any)

The Restricted Drivers Manager will tempt you to click on it twice, but ignore it like an itch and it will go away.

Thus far, I have had two people (both women) come up to me and say that I either need a blank check to get new clothing or that I need to go out and buy something “stylish.”  With this blog post, I would like to set the record straight.  My only standard for myself is that I am dressed in a tidy manner and I keep the brand to myself as a way to track which brands are of inferior quality (you have to try very, very hard to mess up clothing).  As one of my friends say, “functionality over fashion,” which is a universal truth for me.  When people say that I need a makeover, I feel insulted.  I will adapt when I feel the need to, and I will try new things at my own whim.

It is true that we go to restaurants to eat quite often, so why would I write about something as trivial as that?  Well, several years ago, “The Restaurant” was a codename for a trip that orientation advisors would sneak under the supervisors’ noses during their week off.  Eventually, the supervisors got wind of what has been happening and involved themselves in the affair.  With paperwork done, half the staff hopped into cars and took the six-hour drive to South Padre Island, TX.  For the most part, we slept in, spent time on the beach, and ate.  All in all, it was a fun trip that we got to laugh, play, and recharge.

Tomorrow: Transfer orientation.