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Residence halls help acquaint students with Lawrence
By Abby Mills amills@kansan.com Kansan staff writer
This time each year, University of Kansas freshmen flood into Lawrence and have no idea where to go. But freshman disorientation is not a problem for Kayla Bennett.
Bennett, like more than 3,000 other students, moved onto Daisy Hill Sunday. Bennett, Lawrence freshman, moved into Hashinger Hall just across town from her family's home.
Kayla Bennett, Lawrence freshman, adds a finishing touch to her bulletin board. After the madness of move-in day, she found time to decorate her room Wednesday.
She said she chose to live in a residence hall because there she could be more outgoing.
have to pay for a load of laundry.
could be more urgent.
"I wanted to get out of the house," she said. "I'm closer to classes and can be involved with different people and activities."
Bennett said residence halls weren't the most common option for Lawrence students. They either lived at home, she said, or were better equipped than out-of-town students to find an apartment because they knew the area better.
Bennett said living close to home had advantages. While her floor mates hauled most of their possessions into their rooms, Bennett only brought a few loads and would worry about the rest later. She said her parents liked her being close. She'll also never
For students who don't know the area, Lawrence can be a little more intimidating.
more intimidating. K.C. Miller, Dallas freshman, also moved into Hashinger Hall Sunday. He said the move made him a little nervous.
"It's been sort of hard," he said. "I've never lived anywhere else in my life."
my life. He said the first glimpse of his room didn't help the transition.
"Prison cell' kind of came to mind." he said.
Miller said he felt better after he got his stuff into his room and met his roommate.
and team building, RAs checked keys, set up a system to monitor rooms' conditions and placed brochures and posters in the rooms.
Resident assistants worked to make things easier for incoming students by moving in and training for a week before residents arrived. Along with training in crisis management
broadcasts and interviews.
"Since we've been organizing for the past week, it's been pretty simple." said Jairaj Vailoor. Wichita junior and RA on the eighth floor of McColllum Hall.
No serious problems were reported Sunday, although residents dealt with long elevator lines, congested parking and temperatures above 100 degrees.
RAs also planned floor meetings and activities such as group outings to Hawk Week events before move-in.
Craig Bates, Leavenworth freshman who now lives in McCollum, said those activities would help new students feel comfortable quicker.
comfortable voice "Hawk Week helps you go out to see other people and make new friends," he said.
Bates said he viewed his time in the hall as an opportunity to meet others. He hadn't met his roommate yet, but said he hoped they would go
out often and become friends.
Bennett also chose to live in a residence hall for the social atmosphere. She said she chose Hashinger because she thought the residents would be more likely to share her interest in theater.
"A lot of people who are doing more creative, art-based majors come here," she said.
The hall, she said, would give her opportunities to participate in theater and make new friends.
- Edited by Ehren Meditz
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