黑料社

Dedicated Residence Life Staff Create a Home Away from Home for Students At 黑料社 All, campus life is about building a home together鈥攊n more ways than one.

Resident advisers help construct a house for Habitat for Humanity.

Each August, resident advisers (RAs) on both campuses undergo rigorous training to get ready for new students鈥� arrival. That means learning how to handle everything from medical emergencies to party planning and meeting with a wide range of University officials to brainstorm the best ways to help newcomers find their way and place at YU. But this summer, the Wilf Campus residence life staff also honed their skills by sawing and sandblasting as they helped build a house with Westchester County鈥檚 Habitat for Humanity. 鈥淲e wanted to drive home the idea that you never do anything alone here,鈥� said Sean Hirschhorn, Wilf鈥檚 assistant director of university housing and residence life. 鈥淭here鈥檚 always someone to help you, whether you need to put together a planter box or choose a course for your major.鈥� The group of 20 students worked together with homeowners and other Habitat volunteers to clear debris from the site, create planters for the houses鈥� front yards, and sand and paint windows鈥攖asks that Eli Shavalian 鈥�14YC felt meshed perfectly with his responsibilities as an RA in the Rubin Residence Hall. 鈥淏eing an RA is all about getting out into the community and being there for people, whether you know them or not,鈥� he said. 鈥淢y first year here I was a true freshman coming from public school, with no Judaic studies background. My RA made me feel like I belonged here and was a part of something bigger, checking in with me every week to talk about my classes or events I had gone to and making sure I knew someone was genuinely looking out for me.鈥� Shavalian added: 鈥淣ow I want to do that for others.鈥� Being cared for and inspired by a well-trained and unified team of senior students can form a crucial safety net for newcomers adjusting to the fast pace of college life, as well as returning students grappling with other challenges. But according to Shana Glasser, associate director of university housing and student life on the Israel Henry Beren Campus, providing a secure and protected environment is just a piece of the puzzle.

Beren Campus RAs help new students settle in at undergraduate orientation.

鈥淧rograms like Challah Baking, Midnight Madness, Karaoke Movie Night and Craft Nights bring students together,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e dedicated to creating and maintaining a living environment that supports not only the students鈥� academic development but their personal and social growth as well. Our goal is to help students reach their potential through positive role modeling, creative programming and the availability of campus resources.鈥� At the Beren Campus, student housing also provides the unique atmosphere of home in the center of one of the world鈥檚 greatest and busiest cities. 鈥淟iving on campus in the heart of New York City is a formative experience at Stern,鈥� said Talia Lautman 鈥�13S. 鈥淚t gives you the opportunity to take advantage of the city and, at the same time, to develop more as a person by learning from others and participating in events on campus.鈥� 鈥淩esidential life is an integral part of the total collegiate educational experience,鈥� said Jonathan Mantell, director of university housing and residence life on the Wilf Campus. 鈥淢ore than simply a place to sleep, residence hall living creates a community of peers in which to explore new ideas and share in campus experiences.鈥� Learn more about university housing and residence life on the and campuses.