Thursday, July 1, 2010

An Adventure Awaits!


Living on campus is an adventure.  Meeting new friends; late-night movies; fun programs; close proximity to NYC. All of these things, and so much more, are going to ensure that living within the residence halls is a great experience.
As excited as you are to come to campus, there are some things you should know before you arrive. By now, you should have received your housing assignments letter from the Office of Residential Programs. This letter includes details on your housing assignment, check in information and roommate information. If you haven’t received your assignment letter yet, please reach out to the department so that we can help you.
Once you’ve received your housing information, take the time to reach out to your assigned roommates. These are the people you’ll be sharing your first year with, and starting out with good communication is the key to having a great relationship throughout the year. While Facebook and other social networking sites are a good way to have fun and touch base, it shouldn’t be your only method of communication. Sometimes status messages, text messages and “crazy” pictures can be misunderstood, so a phone call, skype session or an in-person conversation is really the best way to go.
If you’ve never shared a room before, it’s easy to overlook the types of things that roommates need to discuss. Share your interests, sleep habits, decoration ideas etc. It’s also a great idea to negotiate who will bring what (cause who wants double of everything, right?!) and remind each other that there are prohibited items that residents aren’t allowed to bring.
Although the entire list of prohibited items is on our department website, some of those items include extension cords, curtains, candles, coffee pots and pets. So, fluffy has to stay home. BUT – you are encouraged to bring belongings that will make your room feel like home. Favorite posters, pictures of family/friends/fluffy, a nice area rug and your postcard collection are great ways to spruce up your room and feel cozy in your home away from home.
I am confident that living on campus will make an impression on each of you. A taste of independence and the ability to learn about myself while living with other students really helped me grow to love my undergraduate experience. It’s our goal at Residential Programs to help you enjoy yourself on campus and make some of the same lasting memories that we made as residential students.
As we get closer to check-in, be sure to check our blog, Facebook page and department website. We’ll have lots of helpful, and exciting, information to share with you. 
Jessica Havery ~ Resident Director of Liberty/Republic Halls 

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