Weeklong Otter Days welcomes largest group of new students in years

By Mark Muckenfuss

The students were excited and nervous. The parents, anxious and proud. There was happy chatter, laughter and tears as a new crop of students arrived at Cal State Monterey Bay last week for the fall semester. 

“My mom has cried. My dad has cried too,” said Layla Smith, of Beaumont, as she entered her dorm lobby, carrying a tall houseplant on her back. Her father, Walter, was next to her with a cart filled with personal items for her room. “I told them I’m going to be OK,” said Smith, who plans to study computer science. “I’m making the most of my education and showing my (two younger) sisters that they can do it as well.”

The tranquil sidewalks and hallways of the campus filled once again and a week of welcome events awaited new arrivals and returnees. More than 3,400 students moved into campus housing Aug. 21 and 22, with about 300 more expected in the few days that followed. It was busier than usual. 

President Vanya Quiñones said the university’s enrollment is climbing. 

“Last week, we welcomed the largest class of first-year and transfer students, along with one of our highest graduate student classes, in the last seven years,” Quiñones said.  

CSUMB’s percentage increase in transfer students for the coming year over last year is the highest in the CSU system. 

Alicia Daniels, of Burbank, was happy to be among those beginning their first year of study. She plans to major in biology. 

Daniels said she was most excited about “meeting new people and getting to learn about a subject I actually like. I’m used to a small school, so it’s nice to be on a smaller campus.”

As she helped her son Joe move into the dorms, Amanda Juarez, of Galt, expressed what many parents were feeling.

“My stomach has been in knots since last week,” she said. “But I’m very proud.”

Isabella Yeager’s family was feeling a little less stressed. She’s from Pacific Grove, only a few miles away, but wanted to live on campus rather than commute. 

“I’ve always wanted to experience the whole college life,” she said. “I’ve been to all the orientations and a science camp here. I love the community here. I’m excited for the whole experience.”

Part of that experience was enjoying all the first week activities, which included social events centered around the dorm communities, such as trivia contests, a carnival, a silent disco and a casino night. 

At the New Student Convocation on Friday, Aug. 23, more than 2,000 students were welcomed by school administrators and went through a pledging ceremony, dedicating themselves to their studies and the CSUMB community. 

That was followed by an icebreaker event, where students were encouraged to make new friends. 

“My goal is that you’re going to make at least 20 new friends,” said Laine Forman, of Playfair, who emceed the event. 

Forman led the crowd through a series of meet-and-greet exercises that included grouping themselves by alphabetical order, interests, birthday months and majors. At one point, conga lines of students danced across the soccer practice field. 

“It served its purpose, I guess,” said Noah Bond, a marine science major from San Jose.  “I met this guy.”

He motioned to Lit Yuan Chong, of Malaysia. 

“We’ve been talking about music and the weather, food and fishing,” said Bond while eating a hot dog at the Campus Cookout. Both are marine science majors. 

Chong said he crossed the Pacific to study at CSUMB because of its location.

“You can go to the ocean anytime you want,” he said. 

And on Sunday, Aug. 25, more than 1,000 Otters did just that to take part in the Otter Plunge, an event that Quiñones initiated two years ago and which has quickly become a popular tradition. It was not only a chance for students to make more friends, but to meet the Pacific as well. 

“I’ve seen a lot of people do polar plunges and I’m an adrenalin junkie, so I wanted to do it,” said Ry Dart, a fourth-year humanities and communication major from San Luis Obispo.

But her thrill-seeking only went so far. She stopped when the water became chest-high. 

“I dyed my hair yesterday,” she explained with a laugh.

Other students went all in, diving through the breakers. Some administrators got in on the action as well. Athletic Director Kirby Garry accompanied each wave of students as they raced into the surf. 

“This is brilliant,” Garry said of both the sunny day and the experience it gave the students. “It doesn’t get any better.”

Otter Days activities continue through Wednesday, with a job fair, hot wings challenge, karaoke and El Centro’s La Entrada welcome event on Tuesday. The weeklong celebration is capped off by the mid-day Otter Cross Cultural Center Block Party on Wednesday. 

“I am confident that we will achieve great things together this semester,” Quiñones said, “and I look forward to the magic that happens every year at Cal State Monterey Bay through ‘The Strength of Us.’”

A gallery of photos from the week’s events is available online.