UC Berkeley Press Release

New school year brings welcomes, workshops – and a warning

By Yasmin Anwar, Media Relations | 17 August 2006

BERKELEY – Starting this weekend, thousands of undergraduate students moving into residence halls at the University of California, Berkeley, will have a big incentive to attend workshops on the risks of social networking sites: Their in-room Internet connections won't be activated until they do.

Welcome Week events
A full schedule of events, plus a checklist to make the start of your semester easier, can be found on the Welcome Week 2006 website.
Move-In Days Room assignments will be available starting at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 19, for Unit 1, 2 & 3 triples, and on Sunday, Aug. 20, for most other residence hall spaces. Get details > Move-in FAQ >	New Student Convocation Hear the Cal Band, Chancellor Birgeneau and ASUC President Oren Gabriel and enjoy a picnic dinner on Memorial Glade (Cal 1 ID required for dinner). Monday, Aug. 21, 3:45-6 p.m.
Chancellor's Receptions Meet the chancellor, distinguished faculty and top staff at the chancellor's receptions for new undergraduates. Tuesday-Thursday, 4-5:30 p.m. in the garden at University House (invitation required). Get details >	Sunset at the Campanile Enjoy a rare sunset view from atop the Campanile (don’t forget your camera!). The observation desk atop the landmark 307-foot Sather Tower will be open Tuesday, Aug. 22, & Thursday, Aug. 24, from 7:30-9 p.m.
Calapalooza More than 300 student organizations, performing groups and campus services will be on Memorial Glade and the Campanile Esplanade to introduce themselves to new students at this annual resource fair. Thursday, Aug. 24, 11 a.m-2 p.m. Get details >	Caltopia Cal Recreational Sports hosts this two-day college lifestyle festival showcasing products, fashions, technology, services, sounds and tastes of Berkeley. This year's event includes the Caltopia Idol talent show. Friday & Saturday, Aug. 25-26, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. at the RSF. Get details >
Library Tours Take a guided tour of Doe and Moffitt libraries. Daily, Aug. 21-Sept. 1; times vary. Get details >	Orientations Joining a college? Shopping for a major? Want to meet more students like you? Any way you slice it, Cal has an orientation (or two) to get you started right. Get details >

These sessions, which begin Sunday, will brief students about the dangers of giving out too much personal information on sites such as Facebook and MySpace. Typically, members of online networking communities post their bios, blogs, photos and contact information there.

"Our main concern is privacy. We want to increase students' awareness of the potential perils of disclosing too much personal information online," said Dedra Chamberlin, UC Berkeley manager of residential computing.

Millions of college and high school students belong to online communities, posting information that can include intimate details from journals, suggestive photos, addresses and phone numbers. Authorities say this information can be exploited by cyberstalkers and other predators. Employers and police have also been known to patrol these sites for background checks and detective work.

At least 6,000 students moving into the campus's residence halls are expected to sign up for in-room Internet service. The hour-long workshops will be held Sunday, Aug. 20, through Wednesday, Aug. 23, and target incoming freshmen and transfer students.

Most students who live in graduate or year-round housing have already received their Internet connections and are not required to attend the workshops. Approximately 8,000 people live in campus housing at UC Berkeley, including graduate students and faculty members.

The social networking briefings are the latest addition to the Cal Connect residential computing service workshops for incoming students. They are part of Move-in Weekend (Aug 19-20) and Welcome Week (Aug. 21-25), when thousands of students attend workshops, lectures, tours and receptions offered by some 100 campus departments. Classes begin Monday, Aug. 28.

UC Berkeley expects a total of 33,650 students to enroll for the fall semester, including 4,200 freshmen, 2,000 new transfer students and 2,775 new graduate students.

The Cal Connect orientations will be held at various residence hall recreation rooms and computing centers and are led by residential computing staff members. A 20-minute video outlining the perils of disclosing personal information online will include sketches demonstrating how the authors of online profiles are frequently imposters.

Other Welcome Week highlights include:

Office of Student Life Open House: Wednesday, Aug. 23, 3-5 p.m. Meet Genaro Padilla, vice chancellor for student affairs, and Jonathan Poullard, UC Berkeley's new dean of students. 102 Sproul Hall.

Late-Night Options, alcohol-free, admission-free events open to all students:

• Sunday, August 20: ASUC and Cal Greeks, Screen on the Green: 8:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Two outdoor movies with popcorn, candy and refreshments, Cal 1 Card required, Memorial Glade, (707) 481-1263, http://www.calgreeks.com.
• Tuesday, August 22: Greek (Fraternity and Sorority) Carnival: 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Featuring an amazing band, carnival games, astro jumps, plenty of food and refreshments, plus prizes, Cal 1 Card required, Lower Sproul Plaza, (707) 481-1263, http://www.calgreeks.com.
• Thursday, August 24: Caltopia Idol: 8 p.m.-midnight, Cal 1 Card required, Haas Pavillion, Please note: This event begins later than previously advertised.
  Dance and Casino Night: 9 p.m.-12:30 a.m., Cal 1 Card with Fall 2006 Class Pass Sticker required, Pauley Ballroom, MLK Jr. Student Union, (209) 380-7637.
• Friday, August 25: USCA Noche de Salsa: 7:30 p.m.-1 a.m. Carne Cruda (band), salsa lessons and DJ. Cal 1 Card required, Rochdale Co-op at 2424 Haste St., 848-1936.
  Project ALLEYway/REdefining Fashion: 8 p.m.-midnight. Free food, music and dancing, Cal 1 Card required, Pauley Ballroom, MLK Jr. Student Union, (323) 216-0961.