Unless they've been lost in the dark recesses of Alderman, most University first years have realized that this past year has been eventful.
The year began with threats of drought and water restrictions. Incidentally, the winter brought huge amounts of precipitation, including record amounts of snow.
The spring semester, marked by a hate crime and subsequent racial tension, ended with a war in Iraq -- bringing more protest and disagreement among the University and Charlottesville community.
While seasoned Wahoos may be used to the vigorous, controversial academic years here, first-year students may be wondering what they have gotten themselves into.
The Drought
It was a dry first semester as talk of drought and water shortages became a reality. Rumors that University students would be sent home in November because of Charlottesville's quickly dwindling water supply were spread on Grounds.
Signs, flyers and handbills asking for student efforts in water conservation or threatening that students would soon be sent home prevailed. Though many students made significant conservation efforts, others thought the whole situation was a little overdone.
"I think they went overboard with the water consumption thing," first-year Engineering student Jonathan Sharp said. "They wasted money installing a new shower head every week."
Other students said they found it challenging to take three-minute showers and saw the lack of trays in the dining halls as an inconvenience.
"At first I was annoyed about the lack of trays, but now it doesn't matter, because they're back and I don't even use them anymore," first-year Engineering student Mike Provenza said.
While some students were affected by water restrictions, most students said they could continue life as usual.
"I thought people exaggerated the drought," first-year College student Nan Sze Ling said. "I don't take long showers anyway, so it didn't change my habits."
No matter how students felt about the drought, though, the event was a distant memory as winter approached -- and much needed precipitation hit the Charlottesville area.
Winter Wonderland
The winter of this semester was characterized by a lot of rain
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