<p>Absolutely go to the Lit Hum lecture; if it's anything like it was my freshman year it will mostly be illustrated historical background on the Iliad. Plus most freshmen will go as they've not yet been jaded into total apathy (that will take a few weeks probably). </p>
<p>As for your meals/points: Columbia is actually screwing you over more than you realize, because there's no way you can actually use all the meals they force you to buy as a freshman in the times allocated. Using meals during orientation will have no impact on this; you'll still have many left over even if you at at John Jay twice every day.</p>