Alumni Return to Support Orientation Week

Every September, the City of Guelph comes alive as more than 5,000 new students arrive to start their journey at the University of Guelph. This past week, Orientation Week (O-Week) kicked off with two busy move-in days, followed by over 250 events designed for new students adjusting to university life.

Behind the scenes, a group of student-staff members known as the Orientation Team (O-Team) has been planning events since February. But they’re not alone in making O-Week a success. For the last ten years, a growing group of alumni, affectionately named "the Faux Team," has returned to campus to lend a hand. These alumni, 18 available in 2024, all previously served on the O-Team as students come back each year to help out with events. This team unofficially began in 2016 with a few members of the 2013-2015 teams available to offer support, and has now become an anticipated part of current O-Team's future once their role has ended. 

Emma Connell, BA ’21, is one of these dedicated alumni. She first got involved with move-in in 2018 as a student on the Residence Life Staff (RLS) team and has continued to help out every year since. As a Faux Team member, Emma is back on campus for the third time since graduating. 

“I love to give back to the community as other staff and volunteers did for me when I moved into residence as a first year. The volunteers and staff who helped me move in provided such great advice and were so enthusiastic about U of G, so I return to campus for Move-in to do the same for new Gryphons,” says Emma.

Emma knows how busy and stressful move-in can be, having experienced it firsthand as a member of the O-Team in 2021. That’s why she and the other Faux Team members, come out to support the current O-Team, offering advice and encouragement during a hectic time.

Faux Team can also be found at large scale events such as Block Party, GryphFest, Academic Orientation Day, and Pep Rally. They are there to not only support new students but also Orientation Volunteers, Event Planners, and current O-Team members. Due to their understanding of the many moving pieces of O-Week, the goals of Orientation programming, and the excitement and stress that the week brings, they bring a unique perspective to supporting behind the scenes. The Faux Team community are well known by many campus partners who have been supported by them for almost a decade.

For Emma, returning to campus isn’t just about helping out. It’s also a chance to reconnect with friends and relive some of her favourite memories from her time at U of G. Being part of the Faux Team has allowed her to build new friendships while staying connected to the university community.