ITHACA, N.Y. -- With the arrival of new students Friday, Aug. 22, Cornell University's Orientation 2003 shifts into high gear, with campuswide activities continuing through Wednesday, Aug. 27. And this year, Orientation will be partnered with another welcome-to-campus initiative -- Welcome Weekend.

In past years, Cornell's Orientation has taken place over 10 days, and it was open only to new students. This year Lisa K'Bedford, Cornell assistant dean of students for new student programs, has shortened Orientation to six days and has added what is hoped will be a new tradition -- Welcome Weekend. This new initiative will take place over five days -- Aug. 27-31 -- and will be open to all new and returning Cornell students. Welcome Weekend will offer a full slate of entertaining, non-alcohol activities.

"We are giving new students a great cross section of life at Cornell through our Orientation program, as well as launching them on their college career through Welcome Weekend," said K'Bedford. "And continuing students will relish the energy of Welcome Weekend and enjoy themselves, as an alternative to the Collegetown party scene."

Orientation 2003 involves more than 70 programs, ranging from the academic and intellectual to the artistic and cultural. New students and their parents will have an opportunity to meet with Cornell President Jeffrey Lehman during a reception on North Campus Friday afternoon and will receive his official welcome to campus during the President's Convocation Saturday at 9 a.m. in Barton Hall.

During the week, Orientation offerings, such as "Act II" -- a group of discussions centered on helping new students prepare to make the best of their Cornell experience -- and "The 411" -- an informational series of introductions to Cornell programs, organizations and educational activities -- will be offered along with old favorites, such as Saturday Night Showcase -- a welcoming party, Saturday, Aug. 23, extending across campus, featuring music, movies, dancing and food. Other Orientation activities include campus tours, open houses by various campus programs and colleges, and information sessions tailored specifically for transfer students and new international students.And the university's Antigone New Student Book Project begins Sunday, Aug. 24, with a book panel discussion in Barton Hall, 3:30-5:30 p.m., and small group discussions across campus, Monday, Aug. 25.

Orientation culminates, and Welcome Weekend begins, Wednesday, Aug. 27, with Cornell Night -- this year on the Arts Quad -- which features performances by the best of Cornell's student a cappella, comedy and dance groups. Welcome Weekend's alcohol-free activities also include: Casino Night, Friday, Aug. 29; Cornell on the Commons, featuring the second annual "Iron Chef" competition, Saturday, Aug. 30; a free outdoor concert on the Arts Quad, sponsored by the Cornell Concert Commission, Aug. 30; and a campuswide "International Dance Explosion," also on Aug. 30.. On Sunday, Aug. 31, students will have an opportunity to help out in the Ithaca community with the "Ithaca Is Gorges" day of service, featuring service trips open to students who wish to participate.

"Our No. 1 goal with Welcome Weekend is to help combat the alcohol-related disruptiveness that has occurred in Collegetown in the past," said Cornell senior Dave Bletsch, co-chair of Cornell's student-run Orientation Steering Committee. "I think if we can maximize attendance at the Orientation and Welcome Weekend events, we can show that there are fun alternatives, on campus, to those Collegetown parties."

Orientation 2003 and Welcome Weekend are coordinated by the Cornell Office of the Dean of Students and the Orientation Steering Committee, which consists of 10 undergraduate students who have been working during the past year on developing the week's programs. The members of the committee are: co-chairs Bletsch and senior Brandon Otto, and senior Ed Cabrera, senior Alee Cavanagh, junior Megan Cunningham, senior Gretchen Guzek, junior Frankie Mallis, senior Fred Isquith, senior Dena Ruebusch, and junior Melissa Semidey.

For further information on Orientation 2003, view this Web site: http://www.sao.cornell.edu/orientation/ ; or contact Lynn Delles in the dean of students office, (607) 255-5808.