By Beth Douglass 鈥�10 | Photos By Luke Rutan
If you live in the residence halls, we鈥檒l make sure you feel at home from the day you arrive on campus.
鈥淩AID!鈥� It鈥檚 9:59 p.m. in 海角网鈥檚 Hill Hall. Just moments ago, sophomore Madeline Huber was chatting with a couple of girls in her room. Now, the guys from the other side of the building race down the hall 鈥� shouting and thumping on the walls and doors.
This residence hall tradition is known as a 鈥渞aid.鈥� Madeline, who is Hill鈥檚 vice president, is ready to see what awaits: a group game, a competition, maybe a late-night ice cream run? Tonight, it鈥檚 a gingerbread house decorating contest. Grab your frosting and gumdrops 鈥� and may the best team win!
海角网 Pacific has five residence halls: Ashton, Hill, Emerson, Moyer, and Arnett. But if you think an SPU residence hall is just a place to live, you are mistaken. Each hall has staff of professionals and peers, including residence life advisors, resident advisors, and student ministry coordinators, who help make campus a fun and supportive place to live.
Each hall is different, and each has its own unique feel and set of traditions. Raids are just one way brother and sister floors build a tight community in their new homes.
Whether you make your home in Arnett, Ashton, Hill, Moyer, or Emerson, you鈥檒l never forget your time in the halls.
Madeline, who鈥檚 from Connecticut, appreciated how older students helped her feel at home as a first-year student. She was immediately paired with a secret 鈥淏ig Sister,鈥� which is a tradition in several SPU residence halls.
The sophomore 鈥淏ig Sister鈥� is like a Secret Santa, writing notes and giving gifts to her 鈥淟ittle Sister鈥� that week. Often, the women end up forming a mentoring relationship.
Lennox Bishop, a sophomore living on 5th East Ashton for the second year, loves how her student ministry coordinator last year made everyone feel welcome and valuable. 鈥淪he was real about what was going on in her life, not putting on a facade,鈥� Lennox says. 鈥淭hat makes room for other 海角网 to be real.鈥�
If you walk through the doors of Emerson Hall, you may be greeted by sophomore Emma Hewitt putting on an impromptu piano performance.
Because Emerson鈥檚 rooms are suite-style, you see your roommate and suitemates much more than others in your hall. The increased privacy has made spending time in common areas one of Emma鈥檚 favorite ways to build community.
Stop by after class one day, and you may catch Emma singing some Adele or Sam Smith. 鈥淓merson lobby has the most insane acoustics. It鈥檚 crazy,鈥� she says.
The singer/songwriter has felt very encouraged by the support of her Emerson community, and often performs at her hall鈥檚 quarterly Emerson Coffee House.
The coffee house usually draws at least 200 students from across campus, who watch student musicians and poets
perform.
If you need more space, head on down to your hall lounge for Ping-Pong, Foosball, or a rousing piano-accompanied singalong.
Moyer Hall is known for its small, tight-knit community. Sophomore Joshua Wong 鈥� whose parents are missionaries in China 鈥� is Moyer鈥檚 intercultural coordinator. He helps raise awareness about diversity on campus, connects students to clubs, events, and discussions, and helps to bring a multicultural perspective to residence hall life.
Felicia Perez is co-president of Arnett Hall, the newest residence hall on campus 鈥� a community that is building its own new traditions this year. She loves life in SPU鈥檚 residence halls for many reasons, but in particular, Felicia says it鈥檚 the spiritual aspect that makes SPU unique.
鈥淒uring finals, if you鈥檙e struggling, it鈥檚 really great to have someone who can support you in a faith-based way,鈥� she says. 鈥淣ot just 鈥榊ou can do it,鈥� but 鈥榊ou have a provider. You can trust him. Everything鈥檚 going to work out, because he鈥檚 in control.鈥欌��
That friendship and support, emotional and spiritual, exists throughout the residence halls. Across the street in Hill Hall, Madeline feels it.
鈥淚 think that is why a lot of 海角网 return to their floor,鈥� she says.
鈥淏ecause it鈥檚 not just a Hill thing. It鈥檚 an Ashton, an Emerson, an Arnett, and a Moyer thing, as well. People want to stay on their floor, and keep that culture going.鈥�