Posts from the edge of The Envelope (a student blog)
(Class of 2006)
Podcast interviews from the Class of 2006.
Overview
Click below to check out some of Olin's Activities and Programs for students:
Orientation
Olin's orientation is a five-day program of fun activities…and a few requisite speeches and information sessions. After moving into the residence halls, you and your family can meet and mingle with Olin staff and digest some information about the college. Then you'll bid farewell to your family and jump right into life at Olin. Your first week at Olin will include helpful discussions with college administrators and faculty members as well as exciting excursions, such as a cruise of Boston Harbor, and a tour of the Freedom Trail in Boston.
By the end of the program, you'll be well acquainted with your peers and the college. You'll be ready to launch into classes and the ongoing development process that is Olin.
Student government
The Council of Olin Representatives (CORe) is a student-elected, student-led body that serves the students of Olin College and represents them to other parties. Olin's student government is unique in the strong ties it has to the college's governance structure and in having a high level and variety of representation, responsiveness to student initiatives, and a central role as a hub of information relating to the student body.
Responsibilities of CORe:
- Representing the student body to the Olin community and beyond,
- Overseeing the recognition and funding of student clubs and organizations,
- Resolving issues within the Olin Student Body.
Residential life
Making a smooth transition to life on campus starts with a comfortable and enjoyable living experience. Resident Resources (R2s) live on each floor of the residence halls and are available to answer questions, help solve problems, and create a safe and fun residential environment. These are not your average RAs. Because Olin's Honor Code holds students responsible for their own behavior, your R2 doesn't have to be merely a rule enforcer, and can instead focus on making sure that you get the support you need to be successful.
And of course there's West Hall, our first residence hall. Every Olin student lives on campus, which means your friends and classmates are always close by and you won't need a car (though you can bring one if you like). The centrally located lounges (complete with fireplaces) on each floor of the building are used for birthday parties, informal discussions with faculty, movie nights, and lots of other events planned by you and your friends. Olin's residential programming is designed with flexibility in mind, and we encourage you to dream up and plan fun activities of your own.
…And did we mention that each room in the residence hall has a private bathroom? Check out our facilities and infrastructure page to learn about Olin’s top-notch campus buildings.As an Olin student, you'll have the ability to start new clubs and organizations with an uncommon amount of support. Start an Ultimate Frisbee club, an
a cappella singing group, or a poetry group - we'll support you all the way. Olin’s student government, CORe, has created a website with descriptions of the clubs at Olin: http://core.olin.edu.
Olin's co-curricular offerings combine fun and intellectual awareness. Faculty or staff members lead the co-curricular groups and give transcript notation to students with regular participation. Students register during the first week of each semester for co-curriculars such as the following: Cognitive Science Reading Group, Current Events Table, Gender and Engineering, Introduction to Origami, Issues in American Higher Education, “I Was a Slashdot Junkie” Reading Group, Know Contest: Preparation for the Putnam and the MCM/ICM Competitions, Le Vie Bohème – French Conversation, Olin Dance Project, Ornithology for Engineers, ¡Por supuesto! – Spanish Conversation, Producing a Short Film on a Micro Budget, Readings in Leadership and Ethics, Stammtisch – German Conversation, The Art and Traditions of Middle Eastern Dancing, The Art of Public Speaking, and The Triumph of Individual Style.
* N.B. Not all of the co-curriculars listed above are offered every semester.
Olin has an active community service program, reflecting the philanthropic roots and mission of the college. Short and long term volunteer opportunities are facilitated by SERV, a group that is committed to Support, Encourage and Recognize Volunteerism. Service programs in which Olin students participate include projects for the Broadmoor Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary, Hillside Elementary School, the Needham Domestic Violence Action Committee, the Charles River Association for Retarded Citizens, FIRST and Habitat for Humanity. Students have also founded service organizations such as the Needham Olin Technology Exchange, which collects and refurbishes used computers and distributes them to families identified by the Needham Public Schools.
As an Olin student, you are also eligible to join most of the 60+ student groups at Babson College, including the Babson Players, Babson College Radio, Hillel, Babson Improv Troupe, Babson Marketing Association and the Ice Hockey Club. You will also be able to participate in a number of the student organizations at neighboring Wellesley College. Student groups at Wellesley include the Quiz Bowl Team, Art Club, Wellesley Science Fiction & Fantasy Society, Glee Club, Amnesty International, Mock Trial and the Snowboard Club.
Olin's intramural program offers two sports each season (Fall, Winter, Spring). Sports include Ultimate Frisbee, volleyball, softball, and basketball. Olin has two outdoor fields as well as access to Babson's extensive indoor facilities.
Without a conductor (or even a semiconductor) the Olin Conductorless Orchestra combines individual participation with active listening and group harmonization to deliver moving performances. The ensemble is the first conductorless orchestra of its kind at an American college. The orchestra features instrumentalists who are dedicated to delivering performances in the collaborative spirit of chamber music.
Sample a short selection from the Olin Conductorless Orchestra: Conductorless_sel.mp3
Facilities and Infrastructure
Olin's state-of-the-art facilities and infrastructure are the perfect setting for 21st Century engineering education| FACULTY PROFILES | |||
| Learn about Olin's world-class faculty | |||
© 2007 Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering