Residence life and education, residential curriculum and curricular approaches, student housing, and technology.
Let’s be real: almost everyone has enjoyed a quirky Buzzfeed quiz! These quizzes are addictive because they make self-discovery fun and weirdly accurate. What if we could bring that same energy into one of the most challenging parts of our job as student staff members? Personal assessments aren’t just enjoyable wastes of time. When used... Continue Reading →
Conflict is part of living in community. Whether it’s two roommates clashing over cleaning habits or a resident group disagreeing over event planning, tension is a natural part of group dynamics. As a student staff member in residence life, you’re likely the first person residents turn to when these issues arise. And sometimes, the way... Continue Reading →
Conflict is a normal part of community living, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to handle. As an RA or student staff member, you're often the first line of support when tensions rise. Whether it’s a minor roommate squabble or something that escalates quickly, knowing how to navigate these situations with confidence and care makes... Continue Reading →
As political conversations become more frequent on campus, whether sparked by debates on television, viral social media posts, or upcoming elections, they often find their way into the residence hall. For many students, these discussions are an important part of exploring their values and shaping their identities. But when opinions collide, conversations can quickly shift... Continue Reading →
As an RA or student staff member, you’re no stranger to difficult conversations. Maybe it’s mediating a roommate conflict, talking to a resident about noise complaints, or addressing a policy violation. No matter how much training you get, these conversations can still feel awkward or uncomfortable. That’s where a technique called "third-thinging" comes in. It can make... Continue Reading →
The year of and after an election can be especially tense and full of big feelings. With the current administration making changes and throwing out new decisions what feels like everyday, things can feel unstable and uncertain. Whether you support the current president, detest him, or don’t have strong feelings, so much change is hard... Continue Reading →
Though you probably won’t be attending Dear Old Shiz University anytime in the near future, being a Resident Advisor (RA) at your respective university comes with its own set of challenges. One challenge that every RA will eventually face is the inevitable roommate conflict. What would you do as an RA if you found your... Continue Reading →
~ Blog Posts Written By RAs for RAs ~ Everyone has their own perspective. With different values, opinions, and backgrounds, it’s reasonable that some topics are difficult to discuss without descending into madness. Whether it’s a topic such as…a heated national election for example, maintaining civil dialogue is important, and especially so on a university... Continue Reading →
With diverse personalities, backgrounds, and lifestyles, conflict is an inevitable part of the human experience. So long as we interact with others, we will argue with them over our perspectives and injustices we’ve collected. Whether it’s over someone eating the last yogurt you were saving or how to coexist within the same space, conflict is... Continue Reading →
