Themed and other on–campus housing are found beneficial     By Jessie Cuvelier April 2, 2008 It’s getting close to the end of the semester, which means it’s time to start thinking about housing for the 2008–2009 school year. Residence Life has already distributed housing registration pamphlets in the student mail boxes; however, there are some things students may want to know before deciding on where to live. Some changes will be made in the coming year. The point systemRegistration for current students will be April 7–11. On Monday, April 7, those wanting to live in Themed Housing (Lags Leadership Academy Hall and Wellness Halls) will be able to apply. Students wishing to live in either of these locations must pay the room registration fee, and have adequate point totals. The point system can be found in the pamphlet handed out by Residence Life or ask a Residence Life faculty member. As most students know, the 2007–2008 academic year was the first for the Leadership Academy and Wellness and Academic Excellence halls on Morningside’s campus. “The Wellness Halls in Dimmitt went very well this year. Both the men’s and women’s wellness halls stayed near full occupancy and we had students that wanted to get on the halls that could not because rooms were not available,” said Andrew Pflipsen, Area Coordinator/Coordinator of Resident Education. “Students on those halls were also able to take advantage of some great programming opportunities that Amy Salton and Beau Kildow, the RAs on the wellness halls, were able to provide throughout the year.” The biggest change for the Wellness Halls is the addition of two more halls in Roadman South. Residence Life faculty are also hoping to focus on the specific areas of wellness a little more when providing activities and programs for those students. Trent Fredericksen, Area Coordinator/Leadership Academy Coordinator, also feels that the Leadership Academy has also been successful. He claims there has been a lot of positive feedback from students whom live in Lags and are involved in the academy. They are making changes due to some of the responses from members. Leadership Academy seminars will be more diverse and vary in times so that there are more opportunities for students to attend. Students in the academy are required to attend a minimum of three seminars per semester. Service project change. Another change is the structure of the service projects. Each member is required to participate in a service project with a group and present the experience to the rest of the academy at the end of the semester. “It is our hope that we can assist students more than we have in making connections with community groups who need students for community service and assist the students in making connections between their service project and how it will assist them in the development of their leadership skills,” explained Fredericksen. One of the biggest differences for the Leadership Academy between this year and next year will be what is expected from second year Leadership Academy members. Residence Life staff hope that they can find ways that will encourage further growth in second year members. They also want second year members to benefit first time members. One way of doing this is by creating some mentoring relationships between the first year members and the second year members. “I think that the Wellness Housing and the Leadership Academy are two ways that our Department of Residence Life is really striving to offer the best experience possible to our students. We want to do everything we can to support the mission of Morningside College while serving our students. Being relatively new to Morningside, I am impressed at the way both the student staff and professional staff care about providing students with the best housing experience we can,” said Fredericksen. Students will be able to apply to live in Lags Hall without being academy members and for Waitt and Poppen apartments on Tuesday, April 8. On Wednesday, April 9, Squatters will be able to sign up to live in their current residence hall room. Roommates must be present or have their completed housing contracts and registration fees turned in order to squat the room. Then, Wednesday afternoon students will be able to register to live in the Roadman apartments. On Thursday, April 10 students currently living in an exempt room may sign up for another room. From 1 to 4p.m. students changing rooms/halls are able to sign up. Both roommates must be present, or one must have the both registration fees and contracts to turn in. On Friday, April 11, students without roommates will be able to sign up. They must turn in their housing contracts and room registration fees. A roommate will be selected for the student. That afternoon students wishing to have a medical single room may request one. Documentation of a medical condition supported by a letter from a physician must be presented.     feature home