What is a "101er?"
A 101er is simply a first-year - or new - student.

What is 101 Week?
101 Week is an orientation week for first year students. 101 Week, formerly referred to as “frosh week,” is filled with a healthy mix of social, academic, and alternative events in order to be completely accessible to 101ers of all ages and backgrounds.

What is PIDSSA?
PIDSSA is the Political, International and Development Studies Student Association which represents over 2,500 students, making us one of the biggest student associations on campus. We represent four programs: Political Science, International Development and Globalization, International Studies and Modern Languages, and Public Administration. For the duration of 101 week, we also represent Conflict Studies and Human Rights as well.

Unlike many other student associations on campus, the PIDSSA represents a specific group of programs under two schools - the School of Political Studies and the School of International Development and Global Studies - under the Faculty of Social Sciences. We are the second largest association on campus and by far the largest within the Faculty.

During the year, PIDSSA plans and co-ordinates various social, academic and philanthropic events and provides their member students with numerous opportunities to volunteer and obtain academic support.

How do I purchase my 101 week kit?
Go to the 101 Kits page by clicking on the link at the top of this page.

How much do PIDSSA 101 week kits cost?
Our 101 Week kits cost $90 this year.

Where is your office located?
We are located in the Desmarais building at 55 Laurier Avenue East, in room 2155.

What is the difference between u101 and 101 week?
u101 is organized by SASS (Student Academic Success Services) in order to properly introduce you to all the resources you have available from the University in a purely academic sense, whereas 101 week is designed to introduce you to the campus community by organizing a week full of events of a social, acadeic and philanthropic nature.

What if I'm in the joint honours program?
If you're registered in both political science and public administration, you completely fall under our student association. However, there are many inter faculty joint honours students (such as Political Science/Economics, Political Science/Sociology, Political Science/Communication) which means that you are technically a part of both student associations which gives you the option to choose which 101 week you would like to participate in.

This is no doubt you'll have more fun with us though.

How do I get involved within PIDSSA or campus?
U of O is home to many clubs and services - both on and off campus - which operate because of many dedicated volunteers. Within our student association, we have year representative positions (one anglophone and one francophone per year) which are filled through an election which will take place at the end of September. Furthermore, our events committee, commonly known as PIDcrew, works in correlation with the V.P. Socials (Amanda and Emilie) in order to put on events throughout the year. These applications will be available online in the upcoming months.

If you area of interest is more academic in nature, you can always get involved with our program review process or with our academic team to assist in the planning of academic events such as International Development Week or Model Parliament.

You can also partake in many of our campaigns and philanthropic initiatives. As part of 101 week, we have a specific day devoted to Shienrama. During the summer, you can also raise money for Shinerama by getting a pledge form here.

I've got more questions, what should I do?
Feel free to send us your questions and we will make sure the appropriate people respond in a timely manner.