The Journal of College and University Student Housing - Volume 38, No. 2 & Volume 39, No. 1 - 170

Jody E. Jessup-Anger • Brianne N. Johnson • Matther R. Wawrzynski

The students in the social justice community, who joined as sophomores, talked about how the community broadened their social network and introduced them to like-minded individuals whom they had not yet encountered in college . John credited his participation in the community for improving his interpersonal skills, giving him more confidence in meeting new people and dealing with the issues that arise when living in a community .

from the social justice community, also discussed student involvement, explaining that in addition to the community service that was coordinated through the service-learning office, students were charged with organizing other service opportunities for their floor. through these activities, their understanding of social justice issues was broadened.

Avenue for Relationship Building
all the men we interviewed discussed their community’s role in helping to foster meaningful relationships. For some, the community provided the opportunity to connect with peers as they began college. they used phrases like “ice breaker” and “family” to describe their interactions with peers in their community. Jack recounted how much easier it was for him to “knock on doors” because the other students were in the same llc. several students also discussed a tacit expectation that they should work at building relationships with their peers by leaving their doors open and interacting socially. the students in the social justice community, who joined as sophomores, talked about how the community broadened their social network and introduced them to like-minded individuals whom they had not yet encountered in college. John credited his participation in the community for improving his interpersonal skills, giving him more confidence in meeting new people and dealing with the issues that arise when living in a community. the llcs also provided opportunities to connect meaningfully with faculty and others who might support students’ future goals. mark recounted a relationship he developed with a professor during his first semester on campus and remarked that he continued to

during their sophomore year. Others speculated that were it not for their llc, they would not be involved in community service activities, clubs, or social events, nor would they be as inclined to attend guest lectures. Furthermore, the men discussed how they created involvement opportunities for others. rich explained how students in the arts community took charge of creating involvement opportunities and notifying their peers: “Here, we bombard people’s mailboxes with every opportunity on campus. . . . and students never complain about there being a lack of activities for things that they are interested in.” Preston,

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The Journal of College and universiTy sTudenT housing

The Journal of College and University Student Housing - Volume 38, No. 2 & Volume 39, No. 1

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Journal of College and University Student Housing - Volume 38, No. 2 & Volume 39, No. 1