And ... We're Off!

Sean Lee

Document Type

News Article

Publication Date

8-2011

Campus Unit

University of North Dakota

Abstract

No matter how old you are, any student will cringe at the thought of the end of summer.

But ready or not, here it is. Students at the University of North Dakota kicked off the Fall 2011 semester with the first full day of classes on Tuesday.

Not only did the campus community flourish with activity Tuesday morning, but initial statistics indicate that UND set an all-time attendance record. According to the Grand Forks Herald , and a statement from the University on Wednesday, a total of 14,076 students went to class.

“A lot of students are recognizing that it is a good time to prepare themselves for the future,” said UND President Robert Kelley. “Many of our students are coming back for graduate and other professional studies so they can continue to compete in a global market.”

Freshman Preston Lee, an Aviation Management major, came to UND for just that: an exceptional education. “Classes (this morning) were a breeze,” said Lee, as he walked to his afternoon lectures. “I usually have to wake up at about 4:30 a.m. for ROTC … it’s going to be rough.”

Another rough but familiar moment was one student’s experience in her very first lecture of her college career. “I was supposed to be in Gamble 3 (classroom),” said UND Business student Hannah Worrell. “Instead, I went to classroom 4. I didn’t know I was in the wrong room until halfway though the class.”

Still, in the grand scheme of things, going to the wrong lecture hall is probably a lesson we all have learned the hard way.

While lazy days of summer might have died down with classes starting, the weather sure did not. A flurry of bicyclists, walkers and even skateboarders could be seen making their way to and from classes around campus.

“[UND] is everything I’ve expected,” said freshman Michael Lokowich-Kohler. “So far, so good.”

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