Stacie Schultz became an O.C. to ensure that incoming freshman have a good college experience.

By Dan Herman Evergreen staff Tales of “demon cows” are acceptable stories to tell impressionable freshmen, but ALIVE! Orientation Counselor Stacie Schultz draws the line at earthquake bridges.

“Some of the O.C.s now tell stories their O.C.s told them. I don’t think I should be telling (incoming students) false stories, so I tell the truth,” the senior speech and hearing sciences major said. “I’m also a really bad liar.” Schultz, now in her second year as an O.C., told some of her charges that the pedestrian bridge near Stephenson Hall was called an earthquake bridge, but made sure to let them know it was fiction. The bridge supposedly received its moniker because an earthquake would cause the railings to fall off and catapult pedestrians to the ground, where it was safer.

“We do tell them about the 'demon cows,’” she said. “Huge Holstein cows, as big as a feeding trough, because it’s something they need to check out.” Schultz said one of the reasons she became an O.C. was because of the great experience she had when she went through ALIVE!

She’s still friends with some of the people from her ALIVE! group, and plays intramural sports with a few. Upon returning home from her session, she adopted some of the expressions her O.C. used and purchased the same kind of phone her counselor had – a pink RAZR.

Now Schultz is the one leading around packs of incoming students, guiding them on campus tours and trying to prepare them for life at WSU. In addition to getting them oriented to college life, Schultz tries to give them the experience she had when she went through the program.

“I help them get oriented on campus, get registered for classes, help them and give them a friend,” she said. “Make sure they know someone when they get here in the fall.” Freshmen reactions can be mixed and Schultz said she sees a variety of responses when she first lays eyes on each group.

“Some groups are barely there, but some are just super-excited. They’re like, 'Yeah, O.C. Stacie’s group!’” She said. “Each session is different.” In addition to forming connections to the O.C., Schultz said she watches them form connections with each other – often at her expense. Some of the funniest experiences she remembers involve inside jokes.

“Basically, if I do something, they make fun of it,” she said.

Good-natured ribbing aside, Schultz’s second year as an O.C. hasn’t diminished the pleasure she derives from the job. Though she’s unsure of whether she’ll return as an O.C. next year, she enjoys her job.

“It’s really fun and I really enjoy getting to meet all the new students,” she said. “Definitely the best job I’ve ever had.”