New Access Opens Doors For Those in Cox And Wheeler
Kyle Centers
Issue date: 2/10/10 Section: News
New front door access regulations took effect Feb. 2, allowing the residents of Cox and Wheeler Residence Halls to enter either of the dorms regardless of which one they live in. However, residents will only be able to enter the main front door of the adjacent dorm, and only from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday. The purpose of the new access is to aid in improving camaraderie and building a community out of two dorms.
The idea was student initiated according to the Residence Education Coordinator (REC) of Cox and Wheeler Matt Scruggs. The Desk Aide and Resident Assistant (RA) staffs of Cox and Wheeler hold a joint meeting each month. "We collectively discuss any issues that our community is facing from a staff perspective," said Scruggs. "It was at this meeting where the idea was first presented."
Before Scruggs could get approval for the change, he had to contact his supervisor, Director of Residential and Commuter Life Angela Jackson, Associate Director of Housing Doug Howell and Associate Dean of Students Larry Robertson. Scruggs was then asked to draft a memo explaining the change in access to everyone involved in the decision making process. Afterwards the change was approved and the RA and Desk Aide staffs were informed. The residents were told Fri., Jan. 29 via e-mail just before the change was to take place.
The new card access is meant to aide RA's in getting residents of both dorms to attend their hall programs which more often than not take place at 7 p.m. or later. "RAs often partner up for programs and having residents from one residence hall waiting outside of the other at night is dangerous," said Misty Watkins, president of the wheeler community advisory board.
Wheeler resident Candice Barefoot agreed with Watkins having benefited from the programs. "It is definitely convenient since there are a lot of activities and hall programs held for both residence halls," she said.
Scruggs hopes the right to use their student I.D.s in order to get into both dorms will aide students in building up Cox and Wheeler as a joint community. "As the REC for the community I want to do whatever I can to help facilitate that community building," he said, "and the developing of the one community made up of two halls mentality." This idea is already embraced by joint dorm pizza parties held at the beginning and end of each semester-being able to enter the main doors will just make things easier for the residents of both dorms.
The idea was student initiated according to the Residence Education Coordinator (REC) of Cox and Wheeler Matt Scruggs. The Desk Aide and Resident Assistant (RA) staffs of Cox and Wheeler hold a joint meeting each month. "We collectively discuss any issues that our community is facing from a staff perspective," said Scruggs. "It was at this meeting where the idea was first presented."
Before Scruggs could get approval for the change, he had to contact his supervisor, Director of Residential and Commuter Life Angela Jackson, Associate Director of Housing Doug Howell and Associate Dean of Students Larry Robertson. Scruggs was then asked to draft a memo explaining the change in access to everyone involved in the decision making process. Afterwards the change was approved and the RA and Desk Aide staffs were informed. The residents were told Fri., Jan. 29 via e-mail just before the change was to take place.
The new card access is meant to aide RA's in getting residents of both dorms to attend their hall programs which more often than not take place at 7 p.m. or later. "RAs often partner up for programs and having residents from one residence hall waiting outside of the other at night is dangerous," said Misty Watkins, president of the wheeler community advisory board.
Wheeler resident Candice Barefoot agreed with Watkins having benefited from the programs. "It is definitely convenient since there are a lot of activities and hall programs held for both residence halls," she said.
Scruggs hopes the right to use their student I.D.s in order to get into both dorms will aide students in building up Cox and Wheeler as a joint community. "As the REC for the community I want to do whatever I can to help facilitate that community building," he said, "and the developing of the one community made up of two halls mentality." This idea is already embraced by joint dorm pizza parties held at the beginning and end of each semester-being able to enter the main doors will just make things easier for the residents of both dorms.
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