As the event commenced, Klaus Sandmann, Vice Rector for Teaching, Learning and University Development, joked how he felt like a first-semester student himself just then since with Rector Michael Hoch currently out of the country, he was hosting the program for the first time. He and General Students’ Committee (AStA) chair Janna Reif interviewed members of the Rectorate and several units at the University in order to give new students as comprehensive an overview as possible of the support services and recreational activities available to them at the University.
Vice Rector Irmgard Förster spoke about the University’s equal opportunity and diversity goals, highlighting the support services for students with children, followed by Vice Rector Birgit Ulrike Münch who encouraged the new students to not miss the chance to study abroad at some point while pursuing their degree. “Because of our robust international network, you can go study anywhere you want,” added Münch, who is Vice Rector for International Affairs. Jennifer Sobotta, Head of the Sustainability Unit talked about sustainability as an issue that is part of the University strategy.
Other information provided at the event—streamed from the main auditorium to the internet, several lecture halls and the Arkadenhof—included what the Central Student Advisory and Counseling Service offers, the role of student councils and the Studierendenwerk services. As the first part of the event concluded, General Students’ Committee chair and event co-host Janna Reif, a medicine student, left the new students attending with her personal parting advice: “Make Bonn your city!”
The new students then got to take a deeper dive into various topics at the info market and find out about cultural offerings like litterarium & atelier along with the University’s many orchestras and choirs. Representatives of University Sports were also on hand to inform newbies about all of their options. Those interested were able to take one of many guided tours conducted of the University Main Building, getting to see some areas not usually open to the public. The student councils organized a number of meet-and-greet activities to help everyone get to know their future fellow students. As in previous years, the University Main Building was open only for first-semester students after the first-semester party started at 6 pm, which above all was about meeting new people.
