Maggie Hannon |
On most Wednesday nights, students who live on campus are usually eating dinner with their friends at The Commons. But last Wednesday, for just 25 cents, residents of Fields Hall got the chance to socialize with staff faculty over a spaghetti dinner as part of the University Hall Fellows Program, which aims to connect students with staff and faculty members.
For freshman Micaela Pearson, dining with university faculty gave her a broader sense of community.
“It definitely builds community not just within the Hall, but with people in the UP community,” Pearson said.
While the students enjoyed seeing their teachers outside the classroom, Fields Hall Director Sr. Sue Bruno said professors enjoy seeing students outside of their role as well and get to see life in the residence halls.
“The professionals, the staff and the professors, they love it. It’s a great way for them to see what Hall life is like and to mingle,” Bruno said.
Bruno started the Hall Fellows program and the spaghetti dinner three years ago and has welcomed professors and other members of the UP faculty to join. The mission of the group is to bring professors and staff into the halls and get to know students.
Currently there are 10 Hall Fellows, including communication studies professor Vail Fletcher, SFRC director Brenda Greiner, math professor Meike Niederhausen, Bill Reed, director of university events and Gerry Gregg, director of Public Safety.
“It’s a great endeavor, but it’s kind of like a hall event where women can enjoy one another and enjoy pasta,” Bruno said. “And I like the ability to have the professional staff and professors here to mingle with them.”
Residents let Bruno know who they would like to be involved in the Hall Fellows program. Hall Fellows are invited to all Fields Hall events and will sometimes plan events of their own. Bruno keeps the Hall Fellows updated with the emails she sends all the Hall residents.
According to Bruno, six-seven Hall Fellows attend the hall events. Brender Greiner helped MC the trivia night, which was hosted by Fields Hall last semester, and Gregg is helping to plan an talk on safety this semester.
University faculty, as well has Fields hall staff, helped to prepare and serve food to students at the event. Gregg was excited about volunteering and found it to be important to interact with students in a more informal context.
“I’m happy to help. And it’s a community event for the Hall and a chance to meet and visit with some of the ladies that live here in a casual and social environment,” Gregg said. “I think it’s good to have an opportunity to interact with them outside of our official roles.”
At the dinner, Pearson got the chance to talk with Gregg and was able to see how much he cared about his work.
“I just asked [Gregg] about his job, and it was cool to see he really liked his job and really liked being part of the UP community,” Pearson said.
Professor Meike Niederhausen from the math department recently joined the Hall Fellows this year. Through the event she was able to see a different side to some of her students.
“I see it as a neat opportunity to connect with students outside the classroom,” Niederhausen said. “Usually we don’t see them [where they live], and their personalities really come out when they’re not in the classroom.”
Bruno believes that the Hall Fellows programs gives students and teachers the chance to connect outside of the classroom.
“We love having them in the life of the hall,” Bruno said, “Especially with the professors. I love it because sometimes there’s just a disconnect between academia and [the] residential side of the house. And this is one way to bring better knowledge of what it’s like to live in a Hall for the undergraduates.”
Maggie Hannon is a reporter for The Beacon. She can be reached at hannon15@up.edu.
