Reflections on Staff Training

Written by Jenni Chadick, Assistant Director of Residence Life

It’s now Friday of the first week of school, and somehow it already feels like we are mid-semester. Perhaps that’s because in Res Life land we’ve trained all 60 of our student leaders, welcomed new students to campus 2 weeks ago, and opened our doors to all 1500+ residential students.  I’ve already had a few conversations about getting involved in RHA, worked through roommate challenges, and yes even a few conduct cases have arose. That’s the nature of Residence Life! Once we open our doors, we are in it. And I love it.

As I think back on this past week, I can’t help but feel proud and accomplished of the great team we have in Residence Life to support our students. The student leaders we hire in February range from the type-A extrovert that move-in day last year was asking about becoming an RA, to the quieter leader who doesn’t say much in an interview or training session but when they do it changes everything, to the student athlete, to the Greek Life student, to the musician, to that academic. Our leaders represent all that Puget Sound has to offer, all driven by a common desire to make Puget Sound a home for students.

It may sound a bit lovey-dovey, pie-in-the-sky, and self-congratulatory, and that is okay. I truly believe our our student staff. The RAs, the RCCs, the RPAs, the GHCs, all of them have the opportunity to create a legacy. To make a difference, to shape our future. And coming out of our training and into the thick of it, I’ve already seen some amazing things. The increased self confidence from the apprehensive interviewee to the enthusiastic greeter. The tokens of appreciation between budding friends, notes on whiteboards and high-fives in the diner. The critical conversations working through different viewpoints of new roommates, suite mates, and housemates. These small moments, the passing head nods, and overheard conversations, are the moments that only happen when our campus is alive with student energy. And even on a damp and dreary day like today fill me with the energy to do my job better, more completely, and with the same youthful enthusiasm of our students. So I guess my reflections on training are really a thank you, on behalf of our department to our dedicated students. Thank you for your perseverance  your time and energy, your dedication, and most of all your spirit! Our department cannot do a darn thing without you.

 We are off to another great year in Res Life, and I can’t wait to see what is in store!

Res Life Staff

Posted in 2013, Staff | 201 Comments

Getting to Know Us: Student Staff (part 2)

As word of this blog has spread like wildfire among our student staff (thanks to our pioneer blogger KW!) folks have wanted to get in on the action and introduce themselves to you! Want more? Check out Part 1 of our “Getting to Know Us: Student Staff”

Pete Bergene: Harrington First Floor RA

PeteI am a junior, studying mathematics and economics. This will be my second year as a Resident Assistant, I returned simply because I liked doing what I was doing. Last year I lived and worked on the Garden Level of Todd/Phibbs whereas this coming year I will be on the First Floor of Harrington Hall. If you find yourself with a room on that floor or in Harrington Hall in general I will be one of four RAs that will be in the building. More broadly, I would be working with James Spaan in addition to the eighteen other student staff in North Quad.

I was born and raised in Cheyenne, Wyoming, though for the last two summers I have held summer jobs in other areas of the United States. Last summer I worked in Steamboat Springs, Colorado as a kitchen hand in one of the many restaurants and this summer I am working in Washington DC for one of the Senators from Wyoming. Prior to this I would work on ranches and farms outside of Cheyenne. Wyoming is open, you can see for miles; it is still where I consider home because it is where I grew up it’s a place that I am familiar with. Don’t let me mislead you, Puget Sound is the place that I am looking forward to returning to, it is home. Granted you cannot see miles across plains but the view of Mount Rainier and the friends that I have made makes up for that. I am looking forward to returning to campus.

 

Zoey Olbum: Schiff Third Floor RPA

ZoeyI’m Zoey Olbum, a junior this year, and I’ll be living as an RPA on Schiff 3. I’m from Sun Valley, Idaho and am currently a Communications and French double major. In my free time on campus I am a member of the crew team and also try to work (when I can) with the Students for a Sustainable Campus club. I love to practice yoga, compost and have fun with friends when I’m not studying, working or practicing with my team. As a returner this year, I’m excited to find and learn other aspects of being in ResLife as I was an RCC last year in Unit G. Being the RPA for Schiff will challenge me, push my limits, and enable me to help others grow as well as face growth myself. I’m very excited to work closely with the freshmen who will be in RHA and also in all of Schiff and Harrington. It will be a great experience to see freshman year from a different perspective and share positive energy with the incoming class.

Posted in Uncategorized | 144 Comments

What to Expect Move In Day

Written by Jenni Chadick, Assistant Director of Residence Life

With move in day fast approaching, we wanted to give those folks looking for a leg up on what to expect on moving day for new students on August 23rd, we’ve compiled a list of things to consider and look forward to.

It’s FUN

Move In Welcome

Smiles are contagious, proven science of move-in day

Students, staff, sometimes parents even join in on the fun, will be on cloud nine to welcome you with Logger love. We are so excited to meet you and welcome you to campus and sometimes it’s a little overwhelming. Sometimes it does feel like the start of Pitch Perfect. Yes, we are über cheery, yes it’s almost overkill, and yes it’s all genuine. Move in day is just a great day – and we are here to make it great for you no matter what was going on for you and your family before you set foot on campus (the argument just happened in the car, the many feelings being felt, the reality of finally starting college). So sit back, and join in the smiles and high fives, it’s just how we roll here at Puget Sound.

Setting Up Your Room

When you arrive, your room will come equipped with a bed, a dresser or armoire (some built in, some free standing, just depends on the building), a desk, and a bookcase (one to SHARE with your roommate, and no, we don’t have extras). Your bed will be set up either a few inches off the floor, or at what is called “captain’s” height. We do not allow beds to be “superloft” height, it is a safety concern. Another option is to bunk your bed. If you would like to ensure your bed is set up and ready to go they way you want you can send facilities a request using their online form. You can use this form during the year to if you change your mind! We will accommodate as many requests as we can, however, eventually we run out of parts to captain beds, so send in your requests early to be sure your bed is set to the height you prefer.

Rooms vary in sizes, but our doubles and triples are very roomy. If you are looking to purchase a rug, 5’x7′ is a great size. Campus is also within a few miles of a Fred Meyer, Target, and Walmart so there are plenty of “big box” stores to get your gear. If you are feeling adventurous Ikea is about an hour away.

RSA will be renting fridges from behind the Student Diversity Center, off of Alder in the ally between 15th and 16th

RSA will be renting fridges from behind the Student Diversity Center, off of Alder in the ally between 15th and 16th

Lastly, don’t forget about RSA’s fridge rentals! Rentals are from noon-3:30p on Friday, and noon-5pm on Saturday, depending on availabilty. RSA often runs out of fridges by end of day on Friday, so be there early! Fridges come in a variety of sizes and styles, and it’s first come first serve.

Whatever your bed height or room size, personalizing your room is the hallmark of the first day. Unpacking those new sheets and posting photos on the wall. Putting your shower caddy together. Hanging up holiday lights. These are all awesome ways to personalize your room.

Parking, Stairs, and Lots of Help

Move In

Facilities and SWAT are there to help you move all your luggage, foam mattress pads, and boxes of home goodies

Parking at any move in I’ve worked (at Puget Sound and elsewhere) can always be a bit challenging at times. But we do whatever we can to ease the pain of hauling your boxes from whatever lot you end up using. From having our Greek Life SWAT (Student Welcome Assistant Team) volunteers who will help haul your boxes up stairs (yes, lots of stairs – only Todd/Phibbs and Commencement Hall have elevators), an amazing facilitates crew that will cart your belongings on a tarp over the field from the parking lot to your hall (truth), and a on-point team from security that will keep traffic flowing. This is why is so important to show up at the time designated for your floor sent in your placement letter – keeps us from getting too clogged at any point during the morning.

Checking In for Orientation

Front Desk

The Info Desk staff are a plethora of smiles and information

When you’re not moving in, either because you arrived early and are waiting for your time (good for you!) or are already settled (good for you too!) you’ll head over to the student center to check-in for orientation. You’ll get information about your Passages group (White or Maroon), schedules, and best of all – your ID card! You’ll want to make sure you have your personal ID on you so you can get your Puget Sound ID. Your ID gets you into your building, let’s you check out books, pays for your meals, and even get’s you discount’s in the neighborhood thanks to ASUPS Local Logger. So hold on to it, don’t let it leave your side, and cherish it always.

Getting Your Mail

Sending packages to campus? Many students ship boxes here to campus beforehand, which is a great way to save space in the car or $ if you are flying! Here’s how to address you mail.

Mail storage crates behind the student center.

Mail storage crates behind the student center.

Student Name, CMB #_ _ _ _ 
University of Puget Sound
1500 N. Warner 98416-xxxx
 

Your CMB, or campus mail box, goes after your name and after the zip code. This is unique to each student, and stays with you while you are student.

If you did ship packages, you will have to open your CMB in the mailroom (basement of the student center) and retrieve a pink slip to present with your ID to the mail services staff working the rail cars (seriously) parked out behind the student center off of Alder street. Mail services will be there to distribute mail between 9a-4p on Friday, and is closed Saturday and Sunday. Bring your ID card (you got that when you checked in for Orientation, remember?) and get your sheets and towels and goodies!

Welcome Home!

RonThom (our nickname for our President, Ron Thomas) will officially welcome you at Convocation (count how many times you hear HOME, it’s a running inside joke) but in reality by the afternoon you’ll already start to feel at home on our campus.

We’ll be seeing you!

Move In 2

Posted in 2013, Welcome | 872 Comments

The KEY to Meeting New People…

Written by Kimberly Webber, Resident Programming Assistant (RPA) in Todd/Phibbs

DISCLAIMER: I had a fantastic freshman year and to this day, my best friends are those who lived on my residence hall floor, or on the floor above mine. That being said, here goes my story of an atypical first week at Puget Sound.

My randomly assigned roommate decided to take a family vacation to Australia at the end of summer, only to return 2 days before the first day of classes. I knew that while everyone else was clinging to their roommate for meals and orientation activities while they got acquainted with the campus and introduced to more freshmen, I would have to take an extra initiative to meet some people whit whom I could survive Orientation. But I definitely did not let this get me down on move-in day.

I had been talking to a Junior-class RA prior to coming to campus after she emailed me to see if I had any questions. I told her where I would be living and she spoke so highly of my RA’s, told me I had a great view overlooking North Quad and that my room was on the end of the hall closest to the girls bathroom, by the stairs—closest to the SUB—and that nearly all the rooms in A/L were huge—so overall, I was ecstatic. I could not wait for my freshman year and Orientation, even if that meant going through it without a roommate.

August 17th, I showed up, signed some forms, got my key, and was shown to my room by my RA. Top of the stairs to the left. One of two rooms on the left…and judging by the lack of name tags on the door across from mine… this moment began my week-long physical isolation from the rest of the HUGE floor of A/L 3. I was the only resident to the left of the main stairway, to the right of which lived all of my hall mates.

I tried not to let this news fade my excitement… but it was tough. I got all my stuff up to my room, and as my brother did a Target run and my mom helped me unpack, the door propped open by a microwave, feeling sorry for myself was all I could do and—despite her restraint to communicate it as many times as I did—all my mom could do too.

I had so been looking forward to being a freshman, to being a Logger, and to making so many new friends. I walked down the hall a few times that day pretending I needed to use the restroom or fill up my water bottle, just hoping someone would have their door propped open like mine was, waiting for a friendly face to pop in. Only 3 of the 30-ish doors were open… boys and parents and people making themselves busy… I lost my courage and apparently my lifelong sociable attitude went with it. And again, I found myself feeling sorry for my situation… and blamed it on just that—my situation.

It took my older-by-3-years brother to make me realize that all I had to do was to CHANGE my situation. Of course, I didn’t come to this realization lightly or until it paid off. I went to meet the cross-country coach and on the way back from the Fieldhouse to A/L, my brother asked if he could take a look at my room key and I obliged. Then he went to Wal-Mart… with my key, telling me to “go make friends”! Meanwhile my mom was headed to an information session about Library Resources.

I headed to North Quad, up the stairs to the third floor and instead of turning left this time… I turned right. I was hoping desperately that since it was later in the day, students would have begun to settle in, maybe have a door stop in place to catch some visitors. Maybe up to 6 doors were opened now. But still the sheer amount of people in each room, between 2 roommates, their parents and siblings, was overwhelming for just me. 2 laps of the floor and back to the far end of the building before I came to a HUGE triple room, with one occupant who just so happened to have the same bed spread as me from the linens catalogue we were mailed during the summer. Easy enough topic to strike up a conversation about, right? Well it was! I then proceeded to tell my new (FIRST!) friend of college, Calli, how my brother took my key so I could put myself out there and make friends. Calli’s parents had already gone home and she loved what I was doing and wanted to come along to meet people. Just down the hall we met Kailee (with her parents, but that didn’t stop us… I guess there’s strength in numbers.) And after being struck again by my initial timidity in approaching the other people on my hall, the 3 of us decided it would be best to start downstairs on the 2nd floor. So we went from room to room, meeting students and parents as “Calli, Kailee, and Kimberly”—confusing a few people for the next couple of weeks, let me tell you!—and from then on, I was the social one. I was the girl who was friendly to all and who put herself out there. This is a role I had always taken on before and was ready to embrace as a new freshman, but was so caught up on my negative situation that I was willing to risk not exuding a great first impression around people I would spend the next 4 years with!

So take it from me; even if your expectations for your year start low…very low, and things seem to be off to a bumpy start, IT GETS BETTER! You don’t need a blunt older brother, a large hall, a outward enthusiasm or a matching bed spread. You just need to take the situation for what it is: an opportunity, not a sentence. And if you’re worried about it, talk to your RA–we’re here to help!

My half of the room on move-in day, fit with the purple bed spread that began my first friendship with the girl down the hall

My half of the room on move-in day, fit with the purple bed spread that began my first friendship with the girl down the hall

My roommate’s side that was sadly empty for the first week

My roommate’s side that was sadly empty for the first week

My RA’s on A/L3, Krista and Taylor, who truly helped me out so much!

My RA’s on A/L3, Krista and Taylor, who truly helped me out so much!

 

Posted in 2013, Students | 192 Comments

One of Us: Making Puget Sound Your Home

Written by Jenni Chadick, Assistant Director of Residence Life

appreciation

Res Life leaders stuffing backpacks with healthy meals for low-income kids in the Tacoma Public School distrcit

Our office has been abuzz with phone calls and inquires about student housing – and believe me – we are excited you will be here soon! We also are excited to have just a little more time to polish off the buildings, manicure the grounds, and train our student leaders who will be welcoming nearly 700 new students to campus in just – GULP – 15 days! Our student leaders MAKE this campus what it is. As a small college, our students have the opportunity to get involved in a myriad of activities, and often times chose more than one. While sometimes this leads to burn out (I see a future post topic for the fall!) more often it leads to doors opening in new and unexpected ways. Making connections, learning how to work with people, understanding university politics (yes, we have that too), benefiting the community, and gaining valuable transferable skills are some of the reasons you should consider what kind of involvement you’d like in your first, second, third, or fourth year at Puget Sound.

RSA at LogJam - be sure to stop by September 6 to get your application!

RSA at LogJam – be sure to stop by September 6 to get your application!

The first place to get involved is in your res hall. Our first and second year communities each have an RHA to get involved in. There are five positions in the hall, from President to Green Advocate, so you’re sure to find the right fit. The RHA is connected to the larger residential student government, RSA. Look for their table at LogJam for an application, find your RHA page on facebook, or talk to your RA when you arrive!

While being in RHA does not guarantee a position as an RA, or orientation leader your sophomore, junior, or senior year, it doesn’t hurt! RHA is where several students learn about these opportunities, and also how they meet like-minded individuals on campus who want to make a difference and have fun.

Puget Sound also has a great Greek community to get involved in. Our delayed recruitment means you can settle into campus life your first semester, and then decide to rush after the winder holiday. Check out the Greek Life website for more information about getting involved, or ask any of the SWAT (Student Welcome Assistance Team) volunteers at move-in why they “Go Greek.”

Getting involved can be as simple as showing up to events that our campus puts on, to trying out for a club sport, to auditioning for a performance team, conducting summer research with a faculty member, writing an article for the Trail, to running for an Association Students of the University of Puget Sound (ASUPS) position. There is an opportunity for every personality type, every commitment level, every interest, every student! So dive in, and make Puget Sound your home!

8570386712_cf7651a3fe_z

See you very soon!

Posted in 2013, Welcome | 352 Comments

How to Prepare for a Roommate…

Written By Kimberly Webber, Resident Programming Assistant (RPA) in Todd/Phibbs

I know you don’t want to hear this, but there really is no one way to prepare to live with a new person for 8 months. He/she may be a perfect stranger, a teammate, a friend, a Facebook acquaintance, a family member… I’ve seen it all during my freshman year and no matter the type of pair, I’ve seen successes and failures across the board. I’ve figured out that the key to roommates is open-mindedness. This applies if you just want to cohabitate peacefully, get along with, or even befriend your roommate (and again, I’ve seen it all happen). I couldn’t find my roommate on Facebook when I found out her name and freaked out for a solid four days until she called me and we talked for an hour and got along so well! It turned out that her page was just private and I shouldn’t have assumed she was some social hermit (because being on Facebook is really getting out in the world…).

Another key is being upfront and honest, without being rude of course. My roommate, the absolutely sweetest girl, moved out at the end of November because I sleep talk. Because this was something that happened sporadically and I couldn’t control, she felt bad confronting me about it. I didn’t find out that she had been having trouble sleeping until TWO DAYS before she moved out! And when she finally did tell me, she was crying and then I started crying—not the ideal situation. She had gone through the whole process of talking to our RA, then RD, then Residence Life to find a new room before I even knew it was a problem. Help out your roommate people: whether he/she/they can control the situation or not, talk it out!

There’s no exact science behind how much you should or shouldn’t talk to your roommate before coming to school, but I would advise talking enough to decide who will bring a microwave, mini-fridge, maybe a rug, or anything else communal you might want—though none of these items are necessary.

Universities don’t just pair new students up to save space and money, though it may seem that way at times. Use this opportunity to practice those skills you learned back in Kindergarten: clean up after yourself, be respectful, communicate effectively, be friendly and open to all. If 5-year-olds can do it, you college kids can figure out living with new roommates—and if you have any problems or questions once you get here, never hesitate to talk to your RA, we’re here for you!

Posted in 2013, Students | 213 Comments

Packing for Your First Year

Written by the summer sustainabilty team and edited by Hannah Maurer, Resident Community Coordinator and Sustainability Program Manager

We know you’re jazzed about becoming a Logger (we’re jazzed too!) and are wondering what to bring to college. Well, we can’t tell you exactly what to bring, but we can tell you what NOT to bring.

Here’s a standard dorm residence hall room:

While all rooms vary, this is your typical residence hall room and furniture

While all rooms vary, this is your typical residence hall room and furniture

But, let’s decorate! Your room already comes with:

  • Mirror
  • Desk
  • Desk side trash and recycling bin
  • Desk chair
  • Bookshelf
  • A bed
  • Closet
  • Towel Rack

Coffee makers, printers, and vacuum cleaners may not be in your room, but access to them is just down the hall or right across campus. You should consider if these are items you need and/or want to haul away at the end of the year.

We found these lil guys upset and alone because they were never used and abandoned at the end of the school year! Do you want to abandon inanimate objects?! Didn’t think so.

We found these lil guys upset and alone because they were never used and abandoned at the end of the school year! Do you want to abandon inanimate objects?! Didn’t think so.

 

Sad items part 2These are the items that may seem like a great idea at the time. But, come move out, these items are often kicked to the curb. Finito. Caput. Got it?

  • Butterfly Chair
  • Standing lamp
  • Extra books

 

 

Now, we all know one of the keys to success in college is a comfortable bed. You may think this means lots of pillows and your childhood stuffed animals, but you’re probably wrong.  You don’t want your bed to end up looking like this:

bed

All in all, leave the throw pillows and stuffed animals at home. It’ll save you some hassle and some embarrassment.

Here are some resources that will make your trip up to school a lot roomier, your stay a lot more comfortable, and move in AND out easier for everyone.

  • Diversions and Oppenheimer are two great places to get coffee. No need for a coffee maker (but don’t forget your own mug for a discount)

diversions

  • Did you know there’s actually a way to rent microwaves and fridges on campus? RSA (Resident Student Association) rents both fridges and microwaves at the beginning of the year! All of these are here JUST FOR YOU!!!

RSA fridges

  • These lil guys were brought to college and never used. You don’t wanna be that guy.

sad fridges

  • Each residence has its very own computer room with its very own printer!!

computer room

  • Each residence hall has access to its VERY OWN VACUUM CLEANER!!! 

When too many items are left after move out, they end up in places like this:

messy storage

 It’s hard leaving some stuff at home, but we promise it will make your LoggerLife much more enjoyable.

summer staff

 

Good luck packing!

Sincerely,

The Summer Sustainability Crew

 

 

NW rain gear

 

P.S. You may want to reconsider that nice umbrella you’re about to bring. We use rain jackets instead….
pig in golashes

 

 

However, galoshes are a go!

Posted in 2013, Facilities, Guests | 613 Comments

My Life in Acronyms…

Written by Kimberly Webber, Resident Programming Assistant (RPA) for Todd/Phibbs

My name is Kimberly Webber and I’m the RPA on the 3rd floor of T/P. That means that in addition to being a co-RA for T/P3, I will work with my RD to advise the T/P RHA. Last year, I was a freshman living on A/L3. I was the Programmer for A/L RHA and worked closely with my RD, RPA, and other representatives at RSA general council meetings.

UPS Residence Life is filled with wonderful resources, people, and places that unfortunately have the tendency to be confused with one another; here are some of the most common acronyms you’ll hear while living on campus:

People: RA = resident assistant; one or two returning students on each residence hall floor to assist in roommate, personal, and academic conflicts; deal with discipline throughout the residence hall; work to foster a strong 1st-year community among new students

RPA = resident programming advisor; one of the RA/RCCs in most buildings (those with first and second year residents) to serve as a guide to the RHA for that area

RD = resident director; one Pro Staff employee who lives and works in the area he/she oversees; handles all disciplinary actions in his/her area; works with the RPA in advising the RHA

Organizations: RHA = Residence Hall Association; group of 5 residents (president, programmer, green advocate, secretary, treasurer) who work together on a weekly basis to improve the residence hall community through programs, events, and providing needed supplies/repairs for the hall

RSA = Resident Student Association; board of 5 on-campus students with similar goals of the RHA, but on a larger scale to reach the entirety of on-campus residents

A/L RHA 2012-2013 (I’m second from the left)

A/L RHA 2012-2013 (I’m second from the left)

Places: A/L = Anderson/Langdon; one of our largest residence halls, housing primarily freshmen; located on North Quad

North Quad on a typical beautiful day in the NW

North Quad on a typical beautiful day in the NW

T/P = Todd/Phibbs; largest residence hall at UPS, housing primarily freshmen; located on South Quad, next to Todd Field

That’s my life in acronyms, what about yours?

Posted in Uncategorized | 185 Comments

Home Away from Home

Written by Kimberly Webber, Resident Programming Advisor (RPA) for Todd/Phibbs

UPS campus shot, my home away from home

UPS campus shot, my home away from home

College is what you make it and at a school like UPS in a town like Tacoma, it’s easy to make it your home. Everything I’ve mentioned in my previous blog posts about Residence Life is the very definition of home. Puget Sound is dedicated to forging the optimal on-campus living environment—one of the many reasons we instated the 2-year live on requirement for new freshmen. My advice to make this place feel like home is to get involved in whatever you can. This may be a sport or an organized club through UPS. Maybe you find a Facebook page for an unofficial club/group activity. Maybe you join yoga for an activity credit and find a group who goes off campus for yoga or does it on Event Lawn (next to Todd Field and the New Res. Hall) once a week. Maybe you become really close with your floor mates in your residence hall, or even another floor in or out of your residence hall. You can get involved with ASUPS (our student government) by becoming a freshman senator or attending open Senate meetings. You can (and should!) join your hall’s RHA or just attend RHA/RSA meetings on your own. Find a group of students and go running together; play Frisbee together; study together. Work at Diversions, Oppenheimer or in the Cellar to see new friendly faces all the time. Do SOMETHING. Get OUT. Or stay in… but do what you do with others!

A/L3 floor bonding at Tower Lanes mini golf

A/L3 floor bonding at Tower Lanes mini golf

A/L3 floor dinner in the SUB

A/L3 floor dinner in the SUB

 

Coming from a family of 6, I believe that feeling at home has a lot to do with family; feeling comfortable with your surroundings has a lot to do with the people you surround yourself with. I was fortunate to find myself feeling at home during my freshman year at UPS and I owe that to the people I call family… my Passages group, my hall mates from A/L 3, the other members of my RHA and from all the RHA’s across campus, the girls I found to run with every week after Cross Country was over and I didn’t join the Track team, other students following my Major or Minor who kept popping up in my classes, and friends of all of those friends.

North Quad t-shirts designed by A/L resident, Kyle (second from right)

North Quad t-shirts designed by A/L resident, Kyle (second from right)

Puget Sound gave me the opportunity to get involved and if I were to give ONE PIECE of advice to incoming freshmen, I would tell them all to take advantage of all the Puge has to offer. You can always let up later if you feel you’re too busy, but there is nothing like those initial quality friends you meet through exploring similar interests, so GET INVOLVED! And if you’re not on campus yet, but reading this—check out the Student Activities website or the Resident Student Association website to find out how you can get more involved in on and off campus activities.

Posted in 2013, Students | 345 Comments

Shiny and New: Part 2

Written by Jenni Chadick, Assistant Director of Residence Life

The Res Life team along with several ASUPS students were lucky enough to get a peek at how our new building, Commencement Hall last week. The building is really coming along! Read and see more about the building in the first post about the new building.

Apologies for the blurry and crooked iPhone photos. I was just so excited about the progress my photog skills flew out the window!

With less than a month until student staff arrive, it’s incredible how much progress has been made, and yet how much is yet to be done. Never fear, the project is moving along smoothly and we are all systems go for an August 23rd opening date.

Enjoy!

ASUPS Team 2013-2014

ASUPS Team 2013-2014

 

Showers are almost all complete

Showers are almost all complete 

Yes, that is a heated towel rack

Yes, that is a heated towel rack 

The kitchens are almost complete - with lighting installed and just awaiting appliances (full size refrigerator and range)

The kitchens are almost complete – with lighting installed and just awaiting appliances (full size refrigerator and range) 

A standard single room in Commencement Hall

A standard single room in Commencement Hall 

The colors inside range from this rust color to a rich gray blue (those are bathroom entrances)

The colors inside range from this rust color to a rich gray blue (those are bathroom entrances) 

The great room in each house really is spacious

The great room in each house really is spacious 

Check out the wall colors

The rooms really are “great” 

 

The Tahoma Room will be the newest gathering space on campus - fully equipped with AV/audio built into the room, including a retracting projection screen (located behind this shot)

The Tahoma Room will be the newest gathering space on campus – fully equipped with AV/audio built into the room, including a retracting projection screen (located behind this shot)

IMG_4335

The fireplace is really coming along

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The Tahoma room facing the east. Where the piano will be located, along with some amazing views.

The colonnade on the east side of the building are spacious and let in tons of natural light to the mixed use spaces on the other side of the glass

The colonnade on the east side of the building are spacious and let in tons of natural light to the mixed use spaces on the other side of the glass 

 

The building is in great shape and nearly move in ready! The landscaping will prove to be the final touches to finish before the building opens August 23rd!

The building is in great shape and nearly move in ready! The landscaping will prove to be the final touches to finish before the building opens August 23rd! 

 

Posted in 2013, Facilities | 349 Comments