Students, parents pleased by Central Michigan University orientation process

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Fall orientation filled CMU’s main campus Tuesday with recent high school graduates just beginning to find their place in Mount Pleasant.

Samantha Johnson, a senior at Homer High School in Homer, said she visited several colleges but felt an immediate connection with CMU the first time she came.

“Orientation today just really confirmed everything I like about CMU,” she said. ”Walking on campus feels right right now.”

Jackie Wayne, a senior at Garber High School in Essexville, said she had an extremely positive experience at orientation. She said her favorite part was the new friends she made over the course of the day.

Parents wait for their children to return from the happenings of Freshman Orientation Tuesday outside of the CMU Bookstore located inside of the Bovee University Center. The incoming freshman arrived on campus around 9:15 a.m to start check-in and attended activities such as academic advising and an information fair. (Erica Kearns/Photo Editor)

Wayne is planning to study education, and was especially impressed by the new Educational and Human Services Building.

“I liked a lot of stuff in the education building, especially the play rooms for kids, those were swell,” she said.

Kunio and Michelle Ouellette, both 1988 CMU alumni, attended orientation with their son Sterling, also a senior at Garber High School. The family said they were very impressed by the organization and personal feel of the day’s events. They said it was at least the fourth CMU event they attended since Sterling expressed an interest in enrolling.

“Sterling was set to go to Michigan State (University),” Michelle Ouelette said. “That was where he always wanted to go, but he came to ‘CMU and You Day,’ and his mind was made up right away.”

Kunio Ouellette said the new buildings and advising efforts have gone a long way to making CMU a personable place.

“Overall, today has just been a wonderful experience,” he said.

Sue Stansberry, a Mount Pleasant resident, attended with her son Kyle, a senior at Sacred Heart Academy, 316 E. Michigan Street. Sue Stansberry was also impressed with the organization of the event and with the appearence of the university. She said it was nice that there was so much help available for those attending orientation.

“You can’t get lost,” she said. “The minute I stepped out of my car I saw someone in a maroon shirt.”

Sue Stansberry said her son is intersted in CMU because of its proximity to home, its athletics and its health professions program. She was impressed with the condition of the campus, and found herself surprised by some of the new buildings.

“I was here five years ago and a lot of the buildings here are new to me,” she said.