2008 Woodie Awards
Senior housing showcases spirit
Gina Parisi '09
Issue date: 9/26/07 Section: News
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In an attempt to create a senior-only living community on campus, seniors were given first priority to live in the Morris Quad Townhouses.
Chris Heasley, Assistant Director of Residence Life, organized this project. It was his hope to get the senior class more involved with campus leadership with the understanding that this can have a positive influence on undergraduates as well. According to Heasley, one way to make this a possibility would be to give seniors an initiative to live on campus. After getting feedback from seniors, Heasley started to model a plan.
Kristin Hassey, Area Coordinator of the Morris Quad Townhouses, assisted in this plan by organizing information sessions, which she said many students chose to attend.
"Having seniors live in one community was really ideal in getting the senior class connected with each other," said Hassey. "I think having the seniors all together showcases the senior spirit rather than having them scattered all over campus."
Hassey also said that having this area designated to seniors only is also beneficial to the RAs because it would allow them to choose activities that are geared more towards the seniors' likes and needs.
According to Heasley, it was his goal to have this area of campus residency a senior-only community, but only 54 percent of the area is occupied by seniors this school year. However, Heasley believes this is a good percentage for the first year it has been attempted.
"My hope is that the whole senior class can look at that community and take ownership in making it a part of their long-standing Saint Joseph's memories," said Heasley.
Although Heasley would have liked to see the whole community occupied by the senior class, he said there are logistic challenges they have to look at and try to overcome. For example, there was a lot of student interest in this initiative and it seemed that the four person townhouses were taken quickly. However, it was more difficult for seniors to find enough people to fill up the higher-occupancy townhouses.
Chris Heasley, Assistant Director of Residence Life, organized this project. It was his hope to get the senior class more involved with campus leadership with the understanding that this can have a positive influence on undergraduates as well. According to Heasley, one way to make this a possibility would be to give seniors an initiative to live on campus. After getting feedback from seniors, Heasley started to model a plan.
Kristin Hassey, Area Coordinator of the Morris Quad Townhouses, assisted in this plan by organizing information sessions, which she said many students chose to attend.
"Having seniors live in one community was really ideal in getting the senior class connected with each other," said Hassey. "I think having the seniors all together showcases the senior spirit rather than having them scattered all over campus."
Hassey also said that having this area designated to seniors only is also beneficial to the RAs because it would allow them to choose activities that are geared more towards the seniors' likes and needs.
According to Heasley, it was his goal to have this area of campus residency a senior-only community, but only 54 percent of the area is occupied by seniors this school year. However, Heasley believes this is a good percentage for the first year it has been attempted.
"My hope is that the whole senior class can look at that community and take ownership in making it a part of their long-standing Saint Joseph's memories," said Heasley.
Although Heasley would have liked to see the whole community occupied by the senior class, he said there are logistic challenges they have to look at and try to overcome. For example, there was a lot of student interest in this initiative and it seemed that the four person townhouses were taken quickly. However, it was more difficult for seniors to find enough people to fill up the higher-occupancy townhouses.
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