The Journal of College and University Student Housing - Volume 41, No. 2 & Volume 42, No. 1 - 22

accessible spaces can isolate students and
inhibit interaction (Schroeder, 1994), while
architecture that promotes social interaction
and community (such as ample, accessible,
and comfortable group space) can have the opposite effect (Kenney et al., 2005; Kuh et al.,
2010). This seems to be the case in this center.
Administrators should consider investing time
and resources in the physical layout and in
the ambience of the dining facilities, as this is
often the one space that connects all students.
Within this physical environment, the dining
room played a role of particular importance.
As the hub of fellowship, this space imbued a
warm family atmosphere that catered to students' desires and values (particularly through
its vegan and vegetarian fare). Large tables and
comfortable chairs are conducive to socializing
and community building.
In spite of the signiﬁcant inﬂuence of the
dining hall in this LLC, the authors recognize that not all LLCs can have a dining hall
as a centralizing community space. For those
campuses without a central eating space that
brings students back again and again, administrators might consider other types of facilities that might encourage regular meetings.
This might be done with a beverage or coffee
lounge, a computer lab, a video game room, a
collaborative study area, or other spaces that
students will want to regularly visit.

Maintaining Traditions and Rituals
As "ceremonies, rituals, and traditions pervade
a culture" (Tierney, 2008, p. 2), a number of
traditions in addition to the dining hall songs
and gatherings are naturally a meaningful part
of this LLC experience. Some of the special and
recurring events have a long history of tradition
that reﬂect and reinforce the LLC's values. There
22

is the Dickens Dinner in December, an event
for which students dress as a Charles Dickens
character. There is also a unique fest, which resembles a medieval music and art festival with
a modern twist and an emphasis on diversity.
Regularly occurring but smaller in scope are
open mic and movie nights (taking place in their
own small theater), which often focus on awareness of social justice issues. All of these traditions and annual practices represent the values
of the community and provide an outward demonstration of the culture (Tierney, 2008).

Allowing Students to Run the Place
The LLC residents involve themselves in all
aspects of the center, including new member
socialization, enhancement of the physical environment, and the course selection process.
Students also play key roles in event programming, the disbursement of funds from the
LLC budget, and judicial matters. In addition,

The fact that this LLC is successful
in creating a strong community
within an older facility is
instructive. In addition, the
personal touches that permeate
overly costly nor require too
much effort, particularly given
that residents help with their
creation and maintenance.

THE JOURNAL OF COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY STUDENT HOUSING

The Journal of College and University Student Housing - Volume 41, No. 2 & Volume 42, No. 1

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Journal of College and University Student Housing - Volume 41, No. 2 & Volume 42, No. 1