Freshman break the silence at the library

NEW WILMINGTON, Pa—The Westminster staff transformed McGill Library into a miniature golf course and a complete party scene with DJ Andy Borts for the Class of 2016 on Thursday night.  Billed as the first year for “Library FYO [First Years Only],” the event aimed at introducing first year students to McGill and the upperclass students.

Traditionally, first years were given a tour of the library and its resources through Inquiry class.  Organizers worked with faculty and pulled the tour from the class agenda, replacing it with Library FYO.  New Librarian Jamie Kholer headed up the effort. 

“The whole goal is to get the first years in the building, create a fun environment for them to get acquainted with McGill.”

It was a night with food, drink, music and prizes.  The evening pushed back all the rules of the library as students danced, played mini-golf and chowed down inside McGill.

"The sheer size of the McGill Library building, can be overwhelming for some of our new students," Library Director Erin Smith said. "We hope that they learn something about the resources that Westminster has to offer and that they walk away from the event with plans of coming back to visit again soon.

Library Technical Assistant Kate Altman also participated in staging the event.

“It’s directed exclusively at the first years—we’re going to have eight different golf courses on each floor of the library.  We’ve got DJ Andy here tonight, some great food.  I wish when I was a freshman here, they offered this.” 

 Even some of the Fresh Start leaders volunteered to help out with Library FYO. 

“I know I had a hard time making friends my freshman year,” Fresh Start leader Marina Rozick said.  “So this is a great place to come and have fun and just hang out for a couple of hours.” 

Many groups came together to make this event possible and Smith expressed gratitude for this. Those individuals and groups include Camille Hawthorne, Audio-Visual Services John M. Ryniawec III, Tawni Darby, Caitlin Oertly, SGA, the Fresh Start Team, SGA, and CPC. Credit for setting up a miniature golf course in the building goes, Smith said, to Jamie Kohler, a McGill librarian.

Organizers commented that it appears more than a third of the 330 incoming freshmen stopped by for the fun and games in McGill while also making some friends along the way.  In other words, Library FYO turned out to be a “hole in one.”