Welcome Home

In the past year, COVID-19 has changed many aspects of our lives in one way or another. This is particularly the case for residential living on campus. While we all look forward to the day that COVID is under control and we can return to a more normal and routine pace of college life, for now change and adaptation is the rule of the day.

Kent State students now have more opportunities to take advantage of the security escort service on campus. Beginning this semester, the Office of Safety & Security within the Department of Residence Services has extended the availability of escorts for students. Escorts can walk students to and from any location on campus between 8:00 a.m. and 2:00 a.m. (Sunday – Wednesday) and 8:00 a.m. – 3:30 a.m. (Thursday – Saturday).

Over the past several months the nation and world has seen injustices too many to name. Many times we are left speechless, angry, frustrated, or just sad. We can choose to see these injustices and ignore them, or we can find ways to learn more, to educate others, and to do our part to make the situation better in some small way. This is exactly what Charlotte Lee, one of our Social Justice Advocates for the Twin Community has done.

In a semester unlike any other it can be challenging to build connections with new people, but it does not have to be that way. For the Resident Assistants in the Lake/Olson community, building community has taken place in a few creative ways. So far this semester, the RAs have planned events for their residents ranging from small group rock climbing, attending an on-campus Black Lives Matter protest, and pre-semester campus tours to ensure new residents knew their way around campus.

During the month of October, the RAs in the Twin Community have been making very creative and eye-catching floor bulletin boards. Each board is designed to engage students, while also aligning with the Residential Curriculum Learning Domains that are in place for each hall each year. The boards this month are being used to engage, teach, and motivate residents about such topics as mental health, identity, campus resources, self-care, alcohol awareness and safety, and more. While some of the boards are passive, some of them are interactive!