The process of moving into campus residence halls soon may be less frenzied if a Student Government proposal is adopted by the Department of Residential Life.
Michael Krom, president of the Residence Hall Association, requested a resolution by SG two weeks ago that would move back students’ dorm move-in day from Thursday to Sunday, more than one week before classes begin.
The extra time is “important for new students to get acclimated to their surroundings,” Krom said. “They’re able to build a positive relationship with other residents before school starts.”
Debora Baker, Residential Life director, said she understands the RHA’s logic, but she is not sure that a longer move-in period would be successful.
“The purpose of allowing students to move in is to make sure they’re undergoing some sort of orientation to the University,” Baker said. “There have to be strong programs put together to keep students engaged in the week leading up to the start of classes.”
Baker said she thought the best scenario involved opening the dorms on Sunday for a midweek start to classes.
Such a scenario was in effect until a few years ago, when the start of classes was moved to a Monday, Baker said. In fall 2001, the dorm opening was moved from Sunday to Thursday.
SG President Darrell Broussard was cautiously optimistic that the proposed resolution, which comes up for a possible vote in the Student Senate on Wednesday, would pass and influence Residential Life’s decision on the date.
“This bill would allow us to say that the student body is behind this idea as a whole,” Broussard said.
Broussard suggested extending the Bengal Bound program to cover the entire week before classes start.
Bengal Bound is a program directed toward incoming students featuring various experiences that enable students to make their transition to LSU, said Neil Mathews, vice chancellor of Student Life and Academic Services.
“We’ve been very pleased with the success [of Bengal Bound] the past few years,” Mathews said. “We have an advisory council that is considering extending Bengal Bound for a day or more.”
The advisory council, consisting of administrators from Student Life and Academic Services and student representatives, is chaired by Doris Collins, associate vice chancellor for Student Life and Academic Services.
“The advisory council was supportive of the concept of expanding Bengal Bound but felt that activities need to be planned purposefully to help students adjust to life on campus,” Roberts said.
In the past, events included RHA-sponsored dances, free time for new students at the Rec Center and walking tours of campus, she said.
Both Baker and Mathews said their departments work with each other to decide the dates for dorm move-in and Bengal Bound, though the decisions are made independently.
Baker said the issue is, in part, “a bigger issue than Residential Life. It’s more in terms of what the University can sustain in orientation programs.”
Some students who live on campus thought having more time to move in would be beneficial.
“When you first move in, there’s so much going on and so much to do,” said Rebecca Marchiafava, an English sophomore who lives in East Laville Hall. “I think it would be good for people who are new to have more time to explore and get used to the campus.”
Marchiafava said she took advantage of the offered programs when she first moved into her dorm, and enjoyed getting to know her fellow residents.
Graphic design junior Kirby Larkins agreed that more adjustment time would help new students.
“It gives you time to take care of stuff, like getting your books and supplies,” Larkins said.