Members of a community service committee on campus along with Assistant Dean of the Office of the First Year Experience Cynthia Smith are investigating the establishment of a themed house on campus for students who are interested in expanding their involvement in the area. According to the Office of Residence Life, Davison Hall has been chosen as the most likely site for such housing, but current residential conditions dictate that the theme house may be several years away, or that another site such as North Hall or the E-Complex may have to be chosen.
“Squatter’s rights come first,” said Director of Residence Life Pete Snyder. Several weeks ago, Snyder sent out a survey to residents of Davison Hall to gauge the occupation of the dorm in the future, and the results showed that most of the current residents intend to stay there next year, making the establishment of themed housing in an area difficult. Snyder said he plans to wait until after the housing lottery to see how many people actually stay in the building, but said he realized it may take several years before there is a section of the building that can be reserved for the themed housing.
“We’re trying to develop a place where people interested in community service can come together,” said Smith. Her group, which consists of students from organizations such as Alpha Phi Omega, Ecologic, and Habitat for Humanity, has been discussing the housing option for about a year. She said that the housing will be open to anyone who is interested in living there and who is looking to participate in community service, but the group will be open to anyone, whether they live in housing or not.
Smith said that in addition to the tasks they will undertake with their individual organizations, the group will be undertaking their own project. As far as the types of projects they will be doing, Smith said, “It’s dependent on the people involved in the house, and what they want to do.”
Themed housing is by no means new to the RPI campus. At present, there are two such areas: “Ground Zero” in Nugent Hall, which focuses on music and art, and a section in Warren Hall devoted to the Science Fiction club and their library. More than a few years ago, there was “wellness housing” offered to students, but Snyder said that since it was driven more by his office and the Health Center than by students, the section was allowed to pass out of existence.
“We held focus groups, and one insightful student remarked, ‘Theme houses won’t succeed unless students are interested in them,’” Snyder said. He continued that the student’s opinion opened the eyes of the department, and they backed off on theme housing for a few years. But every time a group wanted to establish something like this, Snyder said, he has devoted himself to it.
“With the lottery for upper class students, we really push for community development, and this is a way to encourage it,” Snyder said. “I’m willing to talk to anyone about anything.”
In a few years, Snyder hopes that a few more theme houses may crop up, including one in Nason Hall that builds off the concept of “living and learning” started with the establishment of a classroom on the first floor of that building last fall.
Students who are interested in joining the group should contact Smith, or attend the group’s bi-weekly meeting in Union Room 2424. They meet on the second and fourth Wednesdays of every month starting at 6 pm.
