Optimist
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Editorials
    • Letters to the Editor
  • Features
    • Book Review
  • Multimedia
    • Photo Galleries
    • Videos
  • Podcasts
    • Optimist Overtime
    • Top of the Key
  • Police Log
  • Print Edition
  • Projects
  • About
    • Advertise
    • Policies
    • Staff Contacts
    • Jobs
  • Purchase a Grad Ad
You are here: Home / News / ResLife adapts to create community for residents
Dillard Hall Lobby. (Photo by Meghan Long)

ResLife adapts to create community for residents

March 1, 2021 by Sheridan Wood Leave a Comment

Jacob Crabtree, resident director of Mabee Hall, knows how hard it can be to find a community in college during a pandemic, especially for freshmen.

“It’s been really difficult to try and figure out the best way to continue to encourage and support and facilitate that community, while also trying to remain safe and being responsible with how we are doing things,” said Crabtree.

In a typical year, the Office of Resident Life holds events in each hall to encourage and build community for students. This year, however, things look a little different.

“We have tried to get very creative with things, do things on a much smaller scale, do a lot more things that are geared towards smaller communities with their specific RAs, rather than having an event for the entire hall like we would normally do a few times a year,” Crabtree said. “It’s just not something we can do this year and still feel like we are being responsible.”

After learning from last semester, Shannon Kaczmarek, director of ResLife and student advocacy services, said ResLife is more prepared to facilitate community-building activities and events for the spring, while keeping students safe in the process. So far, there are already 35 proposed events for this semester. Coffee bars have also been installed in each residence hall lobby, where students can get free coffee or hot chocolate.

“That’s just a very small way that we can serve them and engage with them in a community space,” said Kaczmarek.

As far as smaller events go, events vary across different halls. Some events include streaming sports events in different rooms to keep everyone socially distanced, door-decorating competitions and smaller groups of students that get together to play games.

Although ResLife is a key element in helping students find community, both Crabtree and Kaczmarek agree that ultimately, it is up to students to put themselves out there, in both ResLife and campus wide events, to find community for themselves if they feel it is something they are lacking.

“My advice is just for people to take that initiative on themselves,” said Crabtree. “It is really easy to just sit in your dorm room and in this time, feel like you are doing the right thing. But you can still get out and be safe and be responsible with what you are doing.”

Filed Under: News

Other News:

  • Undergraduate Research Festival takes place in person and online for first time

  • ACU Theatre prepares for several spring productions

  • Senior send-off scheduled in early May

Avatar

About Sheridan Wood

Leave a Comment: Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

You are here: Home / News / ResLife adapts to create community for residents

Other News:

  • Undergraduate Research Festival takes place in person and online for first time

  • ACU Theatre prepares for several spring productions

  • Senior send-off scheduled in early May

Follow us online

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Optimist on Twitter

acuoptimistThe Optimist@acuoptimist·
5h

The Department of Theatre is producing three spring shows, including a senior showcase, Dance of Hope and Songs for New World. Read more below:
https://acuoptimist.com/2021/04/acu-theatre-prepares-for-several-spring-productions/

Reply on Twitter 1385317883316604929Retweet on Twitter 1385317883316604929Like on Twitter 1385317883316604929Twitter 1385317883316604929
acuoptimistThe Optimist@acuoptimist·
21 Apr

"By being back at a church in-person, I saw the body of Christ like I had not seen it before: as a working machine." Read more from Managing Editor Dillon Daniel below:
https://acuoptimist.com/2021/04/my-experience-back-in-a-fully-opened-church/

Reply on Twitter 1384967677584740353Retweet on Twitter 1384967677584740353Like on Twitter 13849676775847403532Twitter 1384967677584740353

Optimist on Facebook

The Optimist

5 hours ago

The Optimist
The Department of Theatre is producing three spring shows, including a senior showcase, Dance of Hope and Songs for New World. Read more below: ...

ACU Theatre prepares for several spring productions - Optimist

acuoptimist.com

This year the Department of Theatre has been involved in three spring productions, a Senior Showcase, Dance of Hope and Songs for New World. Two of these productions are being filmed and one will be over livestream for students and the ACU Community to watch. The Senior Showcase, which is usually in...
View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

The Optimist

1 day ago

The Optimist
"By being back at a church in-person, I saw the body of Christ like I had not seen it before: as a working machine." Read more from Managing Editor Dillon Daniel below: ...

My experience back in a fully-opened church - Optimist

acuoptimist.com

Regardless of what one may think of the state of Texas opening back up, I believe a blessing that many, including myself, are thankful for is the ability for churches to full capacity within the state. While some stores still count entrants, restaurants require masks and theatres require social dist...
View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Videos

Residence Life welcomes four-legged friend to dorm

https://youtu.be/zEb-k1Q_XDA ... [Read More…]

  • Wildcats claim Southland Conference Tournament Championship
  • Wildcats claw past the Cardinals in the conference semifinal
  • Top of the Key: Episode 17 – Super Bowl Special

Latest Photos

  • Home
  • Weekly Ads
  • Classifieds

© 2021 ACU Optimist · All Rights Reserved