Residence works hard to promote student events

BY MADDY SOMMERVILLE

Living in Sheridan’s residence offers students an experience in college; it’s not only convenient and safe, but it also boasts a lot of ways for residents to have fun and enjoy their time.

Recently, the Sheridan residence, playfully nicknamed ‘Rez’ by those who live there and sometimes by those who don’t, have put up a calendar on the first floor detailing events taking place every month, from health seminars to movie nights. The residence tries to appeal to every kind of interest and mindset.

Unfortunately, few residents turn out for some of these events because of schoolwork, lack of a social network and general exhaustion.

Katelyn Arbuckle, a worker at the residence front desk and a first-year student in the Advanced Special Effects Program, sees the comings and goings of the residents and their guests. “[Students] are too busy, sometimes as a front desk worker I forget how busy other students are.”

Like many other students, Arbuckle has a big course load. She finds that the residents have a lot of homework or important projects to complete. “Or they just aren’t the type of people to go to events I know I don’t go to events because I don’t have the time to,” she said.

As for non residents, she says that she doesn’t mind if people who don’t live in residence come to events so long as they are signed in with a resident who will be with them the whole time. “We don’t exclude anyone at rez.”

Arbuckle thinks if events were a bit bigger and more interesting, students would attend. Arbuckle said that residence advisors would knock on doors before every event, a practice that has stopped. Posters and social media are now used to promote events.

Nathan Merhhr, a first-year student in the Bachelor of Applied Science program, doesn’t live in residence. Still, he comes to the movie nights a lot. “What makes me want to go the most is taking the time to do things at the school besides working and to meet some people along the way.”

Michelle O’Malley lives in new residence and is a first year Educational Support student.  She, like others, she doesn’t attend many events. “I don’t really attend any of the residence events myself! Perhaps it’s in the advertising, or perhaps it’s the fact that nobody wants to go alone.

“As financially bound and restricted we are here, maybe the events would be more popular if they had something that couldn’t be done normally,” said O’Malley.

The residents are excited about certain events, even passionate. But other demands on students’ time such as work and even disinterest can stop the excitement dead in its tracks.