Residents embrace the lounge life
Collegium program launched to students
January 23, 2007
Lauren Thompson
The question of what lies above the Lower Cafeteria is no longer a mystery to residents. As part of a new initiative to improve resident life, the West Coast Collegium opened its doors to on-campus students two weeks ago.
Although the Resident Collegium program was set to launch last semester – after two years of lobbying from the Trinity Western University Student Association – budget concerns stopped it from moving forward.
The impetus to initiate the program this semester, however, was the ‘C’ grade student residences received on the recent Globe and Mail University Report Card, said Kelvin Gartly. As Assistant Director of Community Life, Resident Programs, Gartly will be heading up the program.
After receiving the low grade, Gartly noted that administration decided to push the program to begin anyway, making a few adjustments to the plan that had already been created. For example, instead of creating new student leadership positions with stipends, Community Life gave the role of collegium supervision to current Resident Assistants.
The resident program provides all the amenities of its commuter counterpart, which includes the use of computers, printing, food, and games. For a membership fee of $60 per semester, residents can enjoy a more aesthetic atmosphere for studying or socializing.
“It is a nice space that offers an atmosphere not available to residents in other spaces on campus,” said Gartly, describing the collegiums as more “mature.”
Pia Antturi, a first year Northwest resident who joined the collegium the night it opened, agrees.
“It seemed like a good place to go study or interact with people,” she said, comparing it to the noise of the Lower Cafeteria. It is also ideal for co-ed interaction, she said, as the Atrium and other campus lounges are often not conducive to studying.
Adding to the appeal is the fact that already paid housing fees will be used to cover the membership fee for a maximum of 300 participants this semester. If the program takes off, an additional fee will be required for membership next semester.
Although the program is popular among residents, with 250 of the 300 available memberships taken in the first night, reactions among commuters have been mixed. Many have met the situation with what third year Collegium Assistant Tyler Curll calls, “a mix of fear and hope.”
Although collegiums will remain solely reserved for commuters during the day Monday through Friday, some feel the change may affect the sense of ownership and community felt within the collegiums.
“Many…have found a home and a family in the collegium and fear losing it,” said Curll, adding that he “hope[s] that this pilot project will work out for all who are involved.”
Glenn Hansen, the Assistant Director of Community Life for Graduate and Commuter Programs, said he will support the program whole-heartedly. However, he admits it would not have been his first choice, citing the “strong identity of collegium members which has been infringed upon.”
Both Curll and Hansen also noted that any after-hours events usually held in the West Coast Collegium will be affected. But, overall, there is a presiding mood of cooperation.
“Is it workable?” asked Hansen. “Absolutely.”
Hansen also sees many potential positives to the program from the commuter angle. More students gaining collegium experience means more potential student leaders. And it could encourage residents to join the commuter collegium program if they decide to move off-campus.
In response to some apprehensions that residents may not treat the collegium with the same respect as commuters, Gartly said, “Hopefully residents are mature enough to [treat it in the same way].”
Now you go...
Got something to say?