With spring break over and the academic year barreling to an end, the 2003-2004 freshman have cut their teeth and gotten a taste of college life. According to administrators, the size and talent of this year's crop has gotten off to an auspicious start and promises great success in the future.
"This year's freshman class is the biggest UB has ever seen," said Gerrard Godwin, an academic advisor who works in Student Advising Services. "In my opinion, this class has some of the most enthusiastic school spirit that I have seen in years."
As newcomers, many freshmen students feel that it was important to get involved, and show school pride while at UB.
Richard Oliveri, a freshmen political science major, feels that playing on a sports team can build pride in the school.
"I play on the baseball team, so obviously I am going to have a lot of pride in the blue and white," said Oliveri.
Those freshmen that were not interested in sports, found other ways to get involved at UB.
"Recently, I became a member of the Resident Hall Association," said Suzanne Feinstein, a freshman communication major. "This has helped me to meet some new people, and get involved with the school. I like it here, and plan on staying."
Although many freshmen said they enjoyed their first year at UB, some had a few of the chronic complaints the UB community has heard.
"I still don't like the dining hall food," said Feinstein. "I also made the mistake of scheduling myself for 8 a.m. classes. I definitely won't do that next semester."
While adjusting to college life has been a transition for some freshmen, many said they have enjoyed the change.
Elise Chowaniec, a freshman undecided major, said despite UB's large campus, it retains the atmosphere of a small community.
"I thought the campus would feel a lot bigger," said Chowaniec. "But I still seem to run into familiar faces almost every day. That makes me feel comfortable here."
According to Chowaniec, the UB experience courses played a notable role in her adjustment to university life.
"For next fall's incoming freshmen, I would definitely recommend taking UB101 and UB102, which is a career planning class," said Chowaniec. "It's a great way for undecided majors to figure out what might work best for them."
According to Godwin, many of this year's freshmen are undecided majors, and this is because they have so many interests. Since the current acceptance criteria are higher than past years, this year's freshman class is more academically talented than ever before, Godwin added.
"Many of the freshmen this year came to UB with a bunch of college credits from courses taken in high school," said Godwin. "These students are, in some ways, more demanding of the school because they want to stay on track."
According to professors, despite their differences, this year's crop of freshman bears a resemblance to other classes.
"The freshman class is like other classes because each, in its own way, is unique," said William Baumer, a professor in the Department of Philosophy.
Teaching World Civilization, a predominantly freshman class, Baumer deals with freshmen almost daily.
"Some students come to class eager to learn, while others seem disinterested," said Baumer. "That is common of most students."
While many students love UB, others feel that it might not be a perfect fit for them.
Cara O'Donnell, a freshman psychology major, said while she enjoys UB, she also wants the opportunity for change.
"Living in Buffalo my whole life, it might be nice to get out for a little while and experience school from a different perspective," said O'Donnell. "I don't necessarily plan on transferring from UB, but it might be nice to spend a semester somewhere else. I might like to study abroad."
With the end of the semester near, these freshmen are one day closer to no longer being the new kids on campus. According to some students, they enjoyed their freshmen year, but are ready to ascend the ranks.
"I really enjoyed my first year at UB, but I'm looking forward to having seniority over the freshman class next fall," joked O'Donnell.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
