On August 29—after the fierceness of Hurricane Irene had come and gone, pushing the start of orientation week back a full day—248 new students began to settle in to Juilliard. Most arrived unscathed; others were exhausted from travel plans gone amok. The theme of this year’s orientation was Feel the Pulse, and as the days went by and everyone recovered, activities like knitting classes, board game tournaments, and tours of the city took center stage. Though mandatory meetings and placement exams needed to get done, the week ended on a high (albeit rainy) note with the annual Circle Line cruise on September 6.