Allegheny Student Government

To answer the second question, I do not like the idea of having freshmen live in the same residence halls as their fs classmates. I think that it is important during one's first year at Allegheny to meet a variety of different people (especially considering the fact that we are building such a strong focus on diversity). Although one's fs class can become an important academic and social group for freshmen, I believe that by going to class and living with the same group of people we run the risk of creating cliques and other potential problems. From an RA's perspective, this opens the door for further tension and conflict on a freshmen floor. In addition, while bringing academics into the dorms may be important, I am curious in what form exactly you are talking about. As an RA, dorms are essentially for studying and the like, however, they are also important areas of social activity and relaxation. I worry that if we make dorms too academically focused they will lose that atmosphere.

I agree with the above statement

I agree with Jamie

I don't think that there needs to be groups of FS students living together, if you like the people in your FS then you find them outside by trading cell phone numbers ect. If you don't like them, then you have your entire dorm to look for other people with similar interests that you can actually be friends with. It's much better to meet as many people as possible.

The common book would be ok. However I think it would make some of the Freshman seminars less interesting and less about the topics that students were interested in.

I think it would be a great idea to have the students read a common book over the summer. Especially one that has something to do with going to college or something of that nature. It would be a great thing to talk about during that orientation week with your classmates.

About living with the people in your fs, I do not think that is a good idea. Being randomly placed in a dorm encourages students to get to know as many people as possible during the first couple weeks of school and especially during orientation.

I think that organizing dorms in any way other than randomly is a very bad idea. The more people an incoming freshman can meet, the better. I didn't really have much in common with the people in my first FS, but I found some of my best friends at the time in the dorm. Also, I think an important freshman experience is learning about as many people’s lifestyles as possible, and random hall assignments allow for this, especially with an RA that facilitates programming very effectively.

A book might be interesting, but could also possibly be just one more stress (among placement tests, paperwork, alcohol edu, etc.) in the months leading up to a big transition.

I do not think living with your FS classmates would be a good idea, because it limits the number of new people you come into contact with during Orientation. My FS became good friends and only a few of us lived in the same building. Also, I don't think a common book is a good idea, because the different freshman seminars would lose their subject specificity, but perhaps having students read a book for their freshman seminar over the summer would be a good way to get them started earlier and have something to talk about at the beginning or during orientation

I think the idea of reading a common book is a good idea because it's a great way you know you can start a conversation with anyone you meet on campus. Coming to any school as a freshman is like being in Kindergarden again when you have nothing to talk about with anyone except for really general things. This would be a good way to start an intellectual conversation with someone.

I dislike the idea of living with your FS classmates. You're already going to have a great opportunity to bond with them in class. You should be able to maximize your opportunity to meet people and by being with the same 14 people all the time including where you live, it could cause a lot of "clicks" and not let students have the opportunities we have now to bond with hall mates.