You may not know us yet, but we’re a fairly critical bunch.

The editorial board at The Hatchet is a group of students who enjoy dissecting the nuances of University life here in Foggy Bottom. Some say we are too quick to judge, and at times we are. But at our best, we are the conscientious questioner of the student body. We delve deep into the issues and consider multiple perspectives before we weigh in on them.

Entering into your college experience, we encourage you to adopt a similar attitude. Through the peppy haze of Colonial Inauguration and into the camp-like first weeks of your freshman year, it can be easy to fall into one of two extremes. On one end of the spectrum are those who happily follow the spirited instructions of their small group leaders throughout their freshmen year. In the other camp are those who reject the notion of spirit in every form, beginning with the hourly recitation of the “Fight Song” at CI. Somewhere between these extremes fall the lucky students who can balance their informed skepticism with the desire to partake in the community-building activities so crucial to freshman year.

This year, the GW administration has worked especially hard to bridge the gaps between incoming students and the resources available to them. Programs such as the Guide to Personal Success (GPS) and the GW Olympathon aim to provide students social and academic guidance and opportunities as they build a family in Foggy Bottom.

GPS will provide incoming students with faculty and administrators who want to connect with students outside of the classroom. The program is intended to give students more opportunities to connect to this campus. Olympathon, on the other hand, will be a purely social event that tries to increase school spirit by promoting campus events in a competitive fashion.

Though the kitschy names may be reason enough for some to steer clear of such programs, it is only fair to investigate these initiatives before judging them.

When arriving in Foggy Bottom this September, it is inevitable that the incoming class will be bombarded with the views of a very diverse and opinionated student body. Resist the urge to adopt the perspectives of upperclassmen without doing your own research.

Evaluate student dining on your own standards, go to your house proctor with an open mind and investigate extracurricular opportunities without abandon.

Being a responsible student involves questioning your assumptions while maintaining the idealism that is afforded by a college education. This page does not suggest you join every club and enthusiastically attend every ice cream social. But as you define your identity in the upcoming years and find your niche on this campus, do your best to balance your critical eye with a positive attitude.