Video feature: 'Princeton's Opening Day 2011: Framing the Freshman Experience'

Opening Day index

Suzannah Beiner, a member of the class of 2015, joins fellow Princeton freshmen marching in the pre-rade Sunday, Sept. 11. "President Tilghman's address really put my four years in perspective," Beiner said in a video featuring four events held that day, including Opening Exercises. "I'm going to push the boundaries and explore new possibilities and be an even better person than when I got here."

Photos by Denise Applewhite

Video stills by Evelyn Tu

Princeton University welcomes new students with a variety of orientation activities at the start of each academic year. A video highlighting four events from Opening Day, Sept. 11, explores how the University frames these students' forthcoming academic and social experiences, with an eye toward service in the community and the world.

The video gives glimpses into Opening Exercises at the University Chapel, the "pre-rade" on the front campus, the assembly for the class of 2015 at the McCarter Theatre Center and Tiger's Roar, an a cappella concert in Richardson Auditorium.

The pre-rade, a relatively recent Princeton tradition for incoming freshmen, has grown each year since its start in 2008. This year's event added family and alumni to the march from the University Chapel through FitzRandolph Gates, where freshmen officially entered campus for the first time.

The Opening Day events followed the University's public gathering in remembrance of Sept. 11, held on Cannon Green on the front campus, to commemorate 10 years since the terrorist attacks.