RLC Summer Newsletter - 2012

Residential Learning Communities

Welcome to #Woodworld! A Great Place to Live & Learn!

Expect More. Achieve More. Grow More. Hello Bears! Welcome to the hub of Residential Learning Communities at Bridgewater State University! How exciting is it to think that in just a few weeks you will be arriving at Woodward Hall and starting your BSU experience?! We have some very exciting things planned for the upcoming year and we really hope that you take advantage of everything this unique community has to offer.

In the rest of this newsletter you can learn a little bit more about the people you will be living and working with as well as some great ways to get involved!

A Spotlight on Faculty/Staff Partners

Find out who these folks are, what their roles are, and get to know them before the semester starts! Page 2

Meet the RA & RLC Staff Some of the most important people you will meet! Learn all about them and how they can help you succeed!

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Welcome Week & More! The best way to figure out how to navigate campus, meet new people, and have some fun while you’re at it!

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RLC Summer Newsletter August 2012

First Year Honors RLC - First Year Service-Based RLC - Science & Math RLC

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Where did you go to College?:

Brandeis University

What was your major/minor?:

Sociology and Economics

Do you have an advanced degree?:

Master of Arts from Boston College in Sociology

PhD from Boston College in Sociology

Favorite Sports:

Basketball and Tennis

Favorite Hobbies:

Tennis, Reading, Hanging out with my 13 nieces and nephews.

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Your Favorite Place on Campus ?:

Burrill Office Complex Lobby because that where the Social Justice League and Free the Children student groups hold their meetings. It's abuzz with students making a difference!

Fun Fact:

I have traveled to more than 2 dozen countries.

Things that you are excited about for Fall 2012:

I can't wait to meet the students in the RLC who are committed to being civically engaged and to work with them throughout their careers.

Meet Dr. Jonathan White Professor of Sociology - Service-Based RLC

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Hometown: Staten Island, NY Title: Assistant Director of the Community Service Center

Where did you go to College?: Marywood University

What was your major/minor?: Clinical Psychology

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Do you have an advanced degree?: Master of Arts in Agency Counseling from Marywood University

Favorite Hobbies: Theater, Crafting and Traveling

Your Favorite Place on Campus?:

I love West Campus because of the older buildings and architecture.

Fun Fact: I traveled cross country for a month and love to act with my community theater group in Sturbridge.

Things that you are most excited about for Fall 2012?:

Rose Gage Community Service Center - Service-Based RLC

What are Faculty & Staff RLC Partners?

Faculty and Staff partners are dedicated members of the BSU

community who have volunteered their time to assist with the course curriculum that

each RLC sponsors.

While each partner has a unique role, each of them have an immense commitment to

student learning, growth, and development. These partners are

your best resources in helping you to identify your goals, and

make them a reality.

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Meeting the new first year students and working more closely with the Woodward Hall Residential Learning Community

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Hometown: North Adams, MA

Where did you go to College?: Mass. College of Liberal Arts

What was your major/minor?: Physics

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Do you have an advanced degree?:

PhD from Clark University in Physics

Favorite Sports:

Tennis, rowing machine and white water, rock climbing, hiking

Favorite Hobbies:

Fixing old houses


Fitness Center - Good times!!

Fun Fact: I have bees and chickens


Professor Heilman’s course for the Science & Math RLC!

Meet Dr. Jeff Williams Professor of Physics - Science & Math RLC

Where did you go to College?: Hendrix College What was your major/minor?: History (Minor in German) Do you have an advanced degree? Yes, a PhD in History, from the University of London, UK Favorite Sports / Hobbies: Football and tennis - hobbies include baking, bonsai, and studying the history of fashion Things that you are excited about for Fall 2012: I am very excited to start my new role as Assistant Director of Honors!

Dr. Sarah Wiggins Associate Professor of History & Assistant Director of the Honors Program

- Honors RLC -

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Major/ Minor:

Majoring in Criminal Justice and Psychology with a minor in Spanish

Favorite Sports:

I love watching the Patriots

Favorite Hobbies:

Reading, watching TV, scrapbooking, going for bike rides, playing board games with

friends, spending time with family

Your Favorite Place on Campus?: Woodward Hall is

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my favorite place on campus because it has been my home away from home for three years and has been the place where my best memories have happened.

Fun Fact: I am the oldest of 9! J


I am excited to meet all of the new residents and have some really great experiences with them in Woodward Hall.

Meet your Senior RA - Tiffany Hoyt Honors RLC - Walpole, MA

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Major/Minor: Psychology with a minor in English

Favorite Sports: Cross Country, Track, Tennis, Volleyball, Badminton

Favorite Hobbies: Reading & Running

Favorite Place on Campus: I’m going to sound really cheesy but I would say Woodward Hall because it feels like a home to me. This will be my third year in a row living in Woodward and I keep

3rd Floor RA - David Olbrych Honors RLC - Feeding Hills, MA

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wanting to come back because there is always such a strong community there and you get to meet some awesome people.

Fun Fact: I studied at Wadham College in Oxford as part of the Bridgewater-at-Oxford program this July.

Things you are excited about for Fall 2012: Meeting all the new residents and making Bridgewater feel like a new home for them. I always like to get to know new people so I can’t wait for everyone to move in!

What is an RA? RAs are upper-class students, who have been hired by the Office of Residence Life & Housing (@BSURLH) to build community within their residence halls. Senior RAs lead their team of RAs to uphold institutional policies, program events for their residents, and make themselves available as a resource to all students who reside on campus.

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Major: Sociology

Favorite Sport: Soccer

Favorite Hobbies: Reading & watching Soccer games

Your Favorite Place on Campus?: The science building at night! It is really quiet!!

Fun Fact:

I had 33 teeth, the extra was taken out! Never ate pork! I use lots of exclamation marks in my texts!


Being more involved on campus, meeting new people!

2nd Floor RA - Anthony Bazile Service-Based RLC - Brockton, MA

2nd Floor RA - Steph Couitt Service-Based RLC - Somerset, MA

I'm in a Dual License program double majoring in Elementary Education, Special Education along with Fine Arts. My favorite sports to play are definitely Volleyball, Ultimate Frisbee, or Softball. However, I'm a big fan of the Red Sox and the Bruins! I love being outside, creating art, going on adventures and meeting new people My favorite place on campus would have to be either the Art Building because there is always something going on in there and some really cool people to chat with, OSIL if you're ever looking for a friendly face or something awesome to do or the quad near the Bear's Den, perfect for a game of Frisbee or eating lunch out in the sunshine. Fun Fact: I've swam with sharks and giant stingrays on a BSU volunteer trip in Belize!

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Major/ Minor: Biology Biomedical/Molecular concentration (major) Secondary Education (minor)

Favorite Sports: Cross Country is my favorite sport to play and Basketball is my favorite sport to watch.

Favorite Hobbies: Running & Scrapbooking


Science building because it is beautiful and fully equipped with state of the art technology, fantastic professors, and of course it houses the Biology department!

Fun Fact: I can sing “Row Row Row Your Boat” backwards and I have been skydiving

1st Floor RA - Kath Bukis Science & Math RLC - Wrentham, MA

1st Floor RA - Scott Allen Science & Math RLC - Norton, MA

Major: Biology

Minor: Chemistry

Favorite Sports: Soccer

Favorite Hobbies: Guitar, wake boarding, skiing, archery, woodworking, fishing Favorite part of campus: I really enjoy West Campus because it has the best dining hall (Bear's Den) and the quad which is great for hanging out. Fun Fact: I have worked full time in a chemistry lab, I handcraft guitar picks from exotic hardwoods Excited for in 2012: I am excited to be an RA in Woodward and to meet all of my residents. I know that we are going to have a great community.

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PA - Heather Dupont Honors RLC - Leicester, MA

Meet your Senior PA - Lindsey Clark Honors RLC - Marshfield, MA

Hello! My name is Heather Dupont. I am a sophomore this year majoring in Psychology with two minors in Music and Public Relations. I am fortunate enough to be one of two Senior Programming Assistants for the Honors Residential Learning Community. I am from Leicester, Massachusetts and on my spare time, I like to relax with my friends, plan upcoming adventures, read, and watch movies. Being a small-town girl as I am, Bridgewater State University immediately captured my attention and made me feel welcomed and accepted. Last year,

I lived on Woodward floor 3 in the Honors Residential Learning Community. If there is one word I can narrow my

experience in this community down to, it is unforgettable. Everyone is so welcoming and friendly that you do truly become a family. There is so much to do and so much to participate in, and that makes the college experience here at BSU 100x better and more memorable. One fun fact about me is that I am practically an expert Blizzard maker, and I believe my experimental flavors (such as Apple Pie) should be on the Dairy Queen menu. I cannot wait to meet all of you and host and attend amazing and fun-filled events with you! Let’s make this year legen- wait for it- dary!

(Yes, that is a How I Met Your Mother quote, for those of you who did not know)

Major/ Minor: Psychology

Favorite Sports/Hobby: Dance

What your RLC experience like?: I had a great experience living in the Honors RLC. I worked as a honors programming assistant my freshmen year and I became more involved on campus because of my experience. I met some of my best friends in the honors community and I am so glad I chose to live on the floor. Your Favorite Place on Campus?: I love the involvement opportunities

Fun Fact: In high school I danced at the Celtics pregame shows with my dance team.

Things that you are excited about for Fall 2012: Welcome WEEK!!!!

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Meet your Senior PA - Stephenie Hou Service-Based RLC - Fall River, MA

PA - Shannon Fernando-Cole Service-Based RLC - Plymouth, MA

What is a PA? Programming Assistants (PAs) are new students who live in the RLCs who are hired to program educational and social events for the students who live in their respective RLC. Senior PAs work with the Graduate Intern to lead their RLC Team towards a year full of fun, reflection, and some awesome events that you will never forget! #bsuRLClife

Hello Service-Based RLC! My name is Stephenie Hou and I am a Junior here at BSU majoring in Social Work with a minor in Public Relations. I was one of the Senior Programming Assistants for the Service-Based RLC last year and will continue the position this coming year. I am from Fall River, M.A. and I enjoy playing tennis, swimming, scrapbooking and doing arts and crafts. BSU was not my first choice but because of my many involvements on campus, I am really thankful to be here. I lived in the Service-Based RLC as a new student at BSU and I loved the experience. My favorite part about living in this community was knowing that we all were here for one reason: to make a difference and serve our community.

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My major is Criminal Justice and my minor is Psychology. My favorite sport, although some may not consider it a sport, is dance. I also love softball and basketball. I chose BSU because it has a great community, it has a very beautiful campus, and because it is where I felt most at home and comfortable. Living in the Service-Based RLC last year was amazing. I had so much fun and met lots of great people! I learned so much about myself, the people around me, the community and the world. There were so many great programs such as ice cream socials, spaghetti dinners, bingo, movie nights and wonderful community service trips to places such as Gifts to Give, Cradles

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to Crayons and the beach! Living in an RLC was great way to start my freshman year. It allowed me to get involved and it was such a great experience. My favorite place on campus is the Boyden Quad because it is a great place to sit and do homework, play Frisbee or catch with some friends or tan! I love that in the nice weather, everyone is outside on the Quad hanging out and playing games! A fun fact about me is that I was in the drum line in high school. I am very excited to meet you all and work with you! I am also excited to have lots of great programs and community service trips based on what your interests are! I can’t wait to learn both in and out of class with you guys, and I really hope you enjoy the fantastic experience of living in an RLC.

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PA - Evan Branco Service-Based RLC - Westport, MA

Meet your Senior PA - Autumn Wood Science & Mathematics RLC - Wareham, MA

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Major: Biology

Favorite Hobbies: Hiking, but I am pleased to do anything adventurous.

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Major/ Minor: Biology with a concentration in Ecology, and hoping to declare a minor in Chemistry.

Favorite Sport: Soccer

Your Favorite Place on Campus?: I love spending time in the science building. There are lots of nifty places to get comfy in and study. Plus the observatory is open every Wednesday night to the public, which is always a blast.

Fun Fact: I can whistle like a Cricket, haha!

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Things that you are excited about for Fall 2012: I'm more than excited to return to Woodward for another fantastic year. We'll be having some super fun programs, exciting field trips, and will be making a lot of new friends. :)

What was your RLC experience like?: It was amazing! I always look forward to study session with my friends because I know there will always be someone that can help me no matter what my question is. All of these incredible people really helped me to find my place on campus and make the connections that will aid me through the years.

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Your Favorite Place on Campus?: It may sound strange but my favorite place on campus is the Woodward Basement! There are always events going on: from a Greek trivia night, to science experiments, to discussion groups and study sessions, the Woodward basement is a hopping place to be!

Fun Fact: I am bilingual and recently spent a month in francophone Quebec City, Canada.

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Things that you are excited about for Fall 2012: I am most looking forward to meeting all the new RLC-ers and getting programs under way!

What was your RLC experience like?: My RLC experience was incredible! Joining an RLC was a huge factor to my studies and social life, it allowed me to meet new people easily, network effectively (living on the same floor didn't hurt), and study efficiently due to the number of people with similar classes.

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Welcome Week!

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Sunday, September 2, 2012

• Dinner & Floor Meetings with RAs (MANDATORY)

• 7:30pm - Hypnotist @ Horace Mann Auditorium

Monday, September 3, 2012

• 9am - 1pm - Welcome Week Institute

• 2pm - 5:30pm - Your Community (Required for all first year students - Bring sneakers! J )

• 7pm - 9pm - Spin Art Frisbee @ East Campus Commons

• 8pm - 10pm - Tooned In! Watch cartoons in your pajamas!

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Tuesday, September 4, 2012

• Involvement Breakfast with SGA and the Panhellenic Council (Sororities) @ RCC

• 10am - Noon - Get to know BSU by taking a tour with your class schedule!

• 10am - Noon - T-Shirt Exchange @ BSU Bookstore! Swap your HS swag for some BSU gear!

• 1-5pm - Class Picture and New Student Convocation (Required for all first year students) @ RCC Foyer

For the rest of the Welcome Week Schedule: www.bridgew.edu/orientation/welcomeweek

YOUR opportunity to acclimate to the resources and values of the Bridgewater State University community through various social opportunities.

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Welcome 2012-2013 Residential Learning Communities (RLC) resident students. We are so glad that you chose to join us this year, as this is a big year for RLCs at BSU.

We have grown and developed the RLC program over the last four years and we now have close to 140 residents living in RLCs in two different buildings on campus (There is also an

upper-class Social Justice RLC located in Scott Hall.). We are excited for the opening of the brand new Weygand Hall in the fall of 2013. Weygand will be a 500-bed, suite-style building with state of the art amenities. What really excites us is that Weygand will feature suites that

are specifically designed for hosting RLCs. You could be one of the very first residents to live in this residence hall if you choose to continue your involvement with RLCs next year!

You will all learn a lot this year. You will learn from your RLC faculty, our RLC student employees, the

amazing programs & events and especially from each other. Make sure that you take advantage of all that

living in a RLC has to offer and I promise that you will look back at signing up for your respective RLC as one

of the best decisions that you will make at BSU.

Please feel free to let me know if you have any questions.

My office is located on the first floor right next to the RA Office. Please come down and visit. You can also

email me ([email protected]) or Tweet me (@JustinBMcCauley) if you would like.

Best of luck this year, Justin McCauley Residential Learning Communities Coordinator/ RD Residence Life & Housing 508-531-1334

Resident Directors (RDs) oversee the day to day operations of each Residence Hall on campus. They are a great

resource, and can help you navigate campus, roommate conflicts, and any other issues that you might face while

living on-campus. These professional staff members work hard all year round to create a safe community that you will

feel proud to call your “home” away from home!

What is a Resident Director?

Meet your Resident Director (RD) - Justin McCauley Residential Learning Community Coordinator - Princeton, MA

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Welcome! My goal is to help you gain the most out of your living‐learning experience! I transferred to BSU in 2007 as a business major, and immediately fell in love! Transferring to BSU was the best decision I had ever made, so I am really happy that you are starting your college journey at the place that helped me learn and grow so much! I was shy, nervous, scared, and homesick. However, once I started getting involved and meeting people, all my nerves went away. I became involved in many different student organizations on campus, and soon was calling BSU my “home”. Getting involved was the key to my success, and led me to pursue a Master’s Degree right here at BSU immediately following my graduation in January, 2011. Student Affairs is the hub of student life, and it embodies athletics, student involvement, multicultural affairs, community service, residence life and housing, career services, and many more offices directly related to the student experience outside of the classroom. It is my hope that as a member of the RLC community, you will experience many new and exciting things that will contribute to your own personal growth. I encourage you to try keeping an open mind, seek help when you need it, and don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone! The only way to experience all that college has to offer is to try new things! I wish you the best of luck with your academics; your adjustment to college life; the experiences you will have through being apart of the RLC community; and the future friendships that you will gain. All My Best, Max Quinn Residence Life & Housing 508-531-1334 E-mail: [email protected] | @PMaxQuinn

The Graduate Intern for Residential Learning Communities (RLCs) supervises the Senior/Programming Assistants,

helping them to program events, activities, and other fun things for you to enjoy during your time as a member of our

RLC Community. We host social, educational, and community partnered events to help you get the most out of

your RLC experience. Stop by the RD office to say Hi!

What is a Graduate Intern?

Meet the Graduate Intern for RLCs - Max Quinn Student Affairs Counseling, M.Ed. Graduate Program - Medway, MA

The Residential Learning Communities Team A great place to live and learn!

Science & Math RLC

Faculty Partners

Dr. Jeff Williams

• Professor of Psychics

Dr. Ward Heilman

• Professor of Mathematics

Senior Programming Assistants

Autumn Wood

Resident Assistants

Kath Bukis & Scott Allen

Professional Staff

Justin McCauley

• Resident Director • RLC Coordinator

Max Qunn

• Graduate Intern for RLCs

Honors RLC

Faculty Partners

Dr. Teresa King

• Director of the Honors Center • Associate Professor of

Psychology

Dr. Sara Wiggins

• Assistant Director of the Honors Center

• Associate Professor of History


Lindsey Clark & Heather Dupont

Resident Assistants

Tiffany Hoyt & David Olbrych

Professional Staff

Justin McCauley


Max Qunn


Service-Based RLC

Faculty/Staff Partners

Dr. Jonathan White

• Professor of Sociology

Rose Gage

• Assistant Director of the Community Service Center


Stephenie Hou, Evan Branco & Shannon Fernando-Cole

Resident Assistants

Steph Couitt & Anthony Bazile

Professional Staff

Justin McCauley


Max Qunn


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Documents

RLC Summer Newsletter - 2012