UMD Stadium Cushion

The following historical information was provided by the donor, Stephen Welsh, UMD class of 1969.

"This cushion is one of the many hundreds that were offered free of charge as a campus welcome gift to incoming UMD freshman during orientation/registration in 1967 or 1968, years during which I worked with other juniors and seniors as 'Orientation Sponsors" in helping new students. I believe there were about 1,000 incoming freshman in each of the above years, and I recall that UMD's total enrollment first passed the 5,000 mark at about this time.

In the later 1960s, accepted applicants came to UMD before fall quarter classes started, staying for two days to officially enroll, meet other new students, learn about the University's history and traditions, and be informed about academic opportunities and requirements. Available degrees, majors/minors, liberal arts expectations, and the grading system were explained by the Sponsors: upperclassmen who had gone through extensive training to present the material and answer questions. There were about a dozen freshman in each of a Sponsor's orientation groups. Local students lived at home during these proceedings, but students from out of town were lodged in Grigg's Hall during their stay. Sponsors also functioned as chaperones in Griggs.

After ID cards were prepared and distributed, the new students were guided through the actual registration process. Sponsors checked each student's proposed fall quarter class schedule, and then helped pull class cards from which class rosters would be compiled for the teaching staff when school commenced.

In addition to the academic aspects of their visit, the freshman were also acquainted with the campus, food services, parking, athletics, organizations, residence hall rules, etc. The stadium cushions were distributed to students in each group on their last day of the registration procedure. Very few declined to accept one. I cannot recall who provided/funded these mementos. It might have been the Bookstore, Student Personnel Services, Kirby Student Center, the Athletic Department, or Student Association."