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Lafayette welcomed 618 incoming students in the Class of 2013 Friday at a Convocation officially opening the 178th academic year at the College.
The Convocation featured welcoming remarks by President Daniel H. Weiss and Student Government president Ashley Juavinett ’11 (Blackwood, N.J.), a neuroscience major.
The students were introduced to the vibrancy of intellectual life at the College during a four-day orientation that began Thursday. Themed “I think, I adapt, I evolve,” the orientation included discussion of the students’ summer reading assignments, which pertain to Charles Darwin and his contributions to scientific inquiry. The new students read the Darwin-Wallace Papers, authored by Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace, which outline evolutionary theory. They also read the January 2009 edition of Scientific American magazine, which is devoted to the role of evolutionary theory in a wide range of contemporary fields. Throughout 2009, Lafayette is marking the 200th anniversary of Darwin’s birth and the 150th anniversary of the publication of his magnum opus, On the Origin of Species, with special campus events.
Sydney Peyser ’10 (Livingston, N.J.), Brett Billings ’12 (Marion, Kansas), and Laura Bochner ’10 (Bethlehem, Pa.) spoke about their experience at Lafayette and connections to Darwin’s work.
Peyser, an art major, designed the orientation logo in an art course. Billings, a biochemistry major, discussed a staged reading of Inherit the Wind, which will be presented by Lafayette College Theater Oct. 1-3. The play is based on the Scopes monkey trial, in which a high school teacher was found guilty of breaking Tennessee law for teaching a unit on Darwin’s theory of evolution in his biology class. Bochner, a geology major, has performed faculty-led research on topics related to evolution.
Also speaking were Wendy Hill, provost and dean of the faculty; Hannah Stewart-Gambino, dean of the College; Carol Rowlands ’81, director of admissions; and John P. Colatch, director of religious life and College chaplain.
Pamela Gaary Holran ’88, president-elect of the Alumni Association, presented the Class of 2013 flag to first-year students Ariel Amaya (Bronx, N.Y.) and Rebecca Winter (New York, N.Y.).
During orientation the students were welcomed to the Easton community by the mayor of the City of Easton, Sal Panto. They also connected with their peers and attended sessions on campus issues such as sexual assault, alcohol, and online safety.
Classes begin today for both new and returning students.