“My decision to live in residence has definitely been the right choice for me,” said Jon Miller, a first-year Journalism – Online, Print and Broadcast student from Courtice. “By living on campus I’ve had the opportunity to get to know students from many different programs rather than mine alone. The Resident Assistant (RA) in my building is great. She has helped ease the transition into college life by opening a communication channel that encourages us to ask questions and have input into our new home environment. I’m enjoying these experiences — it helps to know that I’m not alone as I go through these changes.”
“For most of the students living in residence it’s their first time living away from home and they arrive not knowing anyone,” said Dominique Dawes, Residence Programmer. “My role is to organize and implement residence events for the students which will encourage them to socialize, have fun and become involved in their new surroundings. We’ve had movie nights, video game tournaments, a trip to see the Toronto Blue Jays, BYOB (bring your own bowl for sundaes) and run several house challenges — predominately sporting events that included beach volleyball, tug-of-war and indoor soccer. Coming up are a residence-wide scavenger hunt, a trip to a Halloween haunt, a pumpkin-carving contest and more house challenges. The RAs plan charity events to contribute to different community organizations — including the Toonie Lock Out that collects a re-entry fee from students who forget their keys.”
On-campus living accommodations grew to include 32 new spaces for upper-year students. The new townhouse complex will contain an additional 72 spaces and is scheduled for completion in May 2011. The townhouses, combined with the College’s original residence facilities, will result in a total of 580 on-campus rooms.
Gregory MacDonald, a second-year Architecture student, is the RA in the townhouse complex. “These are upper-year students so most are really focused on their studies which results in a more relaxing and quiet environment. Living here comes with more independence than in the original residence facilities and with that more responsibility such as paying our own utility and cable bills. All students living on campus are included in the residence activities and enjoy the residence commons facilities such as laundry, computer labs, café, gaming tables and even a 63” flat screen TV.”
“I think that one of the times that I felt my role as RA was of the most value was when the students first moved into residence in September,” said Business Administration student Greg Gillespie, an RA in the original residence facility. “They needed support and confidence as they entered this new phase of their lives and we did our best to provide that. It felt good to make their move easier — for them and for their parents.”