All posts by Eugene Thomas

Valentine’s Day: What Is Love Contest

valentines-day-web_G

Valentine’s Day is a special time for us to celebrate love—Whether it be the love we give ourselves or the love we give others. Love is something we all need to feel like there is still good in the world!

Housing and Residential Programs would like you to be a part of those who spread love, either in the interest of self-love or loving that special person in your life. There will be a contest for our students living in the residence halls to see who can come up with the best way to celebrate Valentine’s Day!

valentines-day-india

Here’s what you’ll need to do:

  1. With 25-50 words tell us how you make Valentine’s Day special—for yourself, with your significant other, or with a friend or family member.
  2. Take a photo showing how you spent this Valentine’s Day—keep the photos clean and friendly!
  3. Tweet both the photo and how you spend your Valentine’s Day with a mention to @VilleHousing using the #VilleHousingValentine hashtag.

Make sure to follow us on Twitter at @VilleHousing.

The winners will be announced on Monday, February 19, 2018. There will be $50, $25, and $15 gift cards for the University Store for first place, second place, and third place! Show us here at Housing what love is all about and how we Marauders celebrate Valentine’s Day!

Black History Month: Awareness, Allies, and Dialogue

The beginning of February is a time of history, celebration, and appreciation for those invested and a part of black culture. Black History Month encompasses the milestones made, the organizations formed, the fights for liberation, and the supportive systems of allies. It is also a month of overcoming struggle, realizing that progress cannot be made if one is not passive, but active. As a University, our job is to familiarize ourselves with our demographic of students and make it a safe living learning community. It also our job to be both inclusive and diverse and be mindful of our actions. Black History Month is a time to educate and be aware, it is a time most importantly to create a dialogue with others.

The question now is how can we educate ourselves, be aware, and create dialogue? One way is to read—it is a fundamental tool to immerse yourself in a life that is not your own, while also wondering what other works are out there to inspire and change the way you think.

Baldwin

James Baldwin—a poet, social critic, writer, and essayist created works associated with the racial disparities in America. He also focused on the life of the American Negro.

His novels, essays, and poems can be a great resource to learn about Black History. He can also point you in the direction of other great  novelists like: Toni Morrison, Zora Neale Hurston, Ralph Ellison, and Ta-Nehisi Coates to name a few. Let this February be a time of not only education, but of love, compassion, openness, understanding, creativity, and progress.

Let these three things help you this February:

  1. Be aware of your peers who may be insensitive to the meaning behind Black History Month. – Do the right thing and educate.
  2. Spread love and read more. – There is life in the pages of a book.
  3. Create dialogue. – Be open minded and talk to those who may not be aware. Dialogue can create a space for important issues to be solved.

We can all be servant leaders this February, not only for others but for ourselves! We all contribute to the way we live and learn each day! Be a friend, be an ally, and be involved!

Baldwin

If you want to peek into the life of James Baldwin,  check out “I Am Not Your Negro” on February 13th, 2018 in the South Village Great  Room from 7:00pm-9:30pm led by RA Eugene Thomas!

*There will be a giveaway of 10 copies of “I Am Not Your Negro” the novel. Five books will be given in the beginning of the program followed by the remaining five books at the end. 

Photos courtesy of Google 

 

What To Do At Your RA Interview

What To Do At Your RA Interview?

Are you thinking of becoming an RA? Do you believe in Student Leadership, helping others, decorating a hallway, or showcasing great programs that everyone will enjoy? You should apply to be an RA!

“How do I apply? Where can I get the application?”

https://getinvolved.millersville.edu/submitter/form/start/142540

This link above, will take you to the page where you will put in your Millersville email and password, like you would use signing in to any portal the university uses. Also it helps to know the deadline for the application to become an RA is Monday, February 5th, 2018.

“What if I don’t know what to say?”

Student Leaders come in all shapes, sizes, mindsets, backgrounds, etc. You want to have an open-mind about what kind of leader you will be—you want to be someone that will get others involved! Don’t say anything that would jeopardize your chances of leading others into success.

“There’s an interview, what should I wear?!?” 

You can breathe a little easier because help is on the way! Your style of dress is only a small component of your potential to become a greater leader. Your interview attire should be well-thought out—enough where the interviewer knows you are serious about the position. The most important component is your attitude about the interview. Your passion and purpose go a long way and will surely show when you venture into the life of an RA.

“Wait! I didn’t know there were two interviews!!”

Saturday, February 10th, 2018 is the Group Interview where you will be among fellow student leaders who just like you, want to make a difference! This process will challenge both your analytical skills and your ability to work with others to reach a common goal. You will also attend individual interviews during the last two weeks of February.

That being said to prepare for both the group and individual interviews, these tricks and tips can be a great asset to what you will need to make a different in Housing and Residential Programs:

  1. Be on time for the interview—The earlier the better. Give yourself time to shake the nerves and talk with peers and even do mock interviews.
  2. Be yourself—It goes without saying, originality sets you apart from others, but that confidence that you have in yourself will surely stand out.
  3. The Group interview is not competition— Working with others is a huge integral part of the RA lifestyle. Your cooperation is key and understanding how others work is first step of many you will take for the transferable skills gained as an RA.
  4. Look around the room—Take a look at those fresh faces. Make conversation and make new friends! The people you see in the room may be the people you see on your staff as a new RA.
  5. Get to know the Housing and Residential GA’s, RA’s, and RAD’s—Learning from experience is the best tool anyone can have for getting prepared. Learning the insides and outs of a new job before it starts can be highly beneficial.
  6. Prepare some questions for the interview after its over—You want to make sure the interviewer has an interviewee that is interested and actively listening; asking questions is great way to inspire conversation and commitment to the job.
  7. Don’t just take the job for its benefits—Being an RA is more than just a room that’s paid for. As an RA, you have the opportunity to initiate leadership that is transactional, emulative, and beneficial to where you can take it with you to a job in the future.
  8. Be judgement free—As an RA you will encounter a lot of different viewpoints, people, personalities, and work attitudes. Understand that being understanding is a trait every RA should learn to carry with them.
  9. Smile—Have fun with the interview, make the most of it, your first impression is your best impression!
  10. Don’t take it personal—All interviews are a chance to learn about yourself, whether you become an RA or not. It is best to understand opportunities are always around the corner.

As a last reminder, here are the info sessions where you can get all the info you need and more about RA life through Housing and Residential Programs:

Wednesday, January 24th                                Thursday, January 25th

7pm – 8 pm                                                                 12:15pm – 1:15pm

South Village Great Room                                South Village Great Room

Monday, January 29th                                         Tuesday, January 30th

6:30pm – 7:30pm                                                     2:30pm – 3:30pm

South Village Great Room                                 South Village Great Room

Take these tips and tricks with you to the RA interview and beyond and be ready and willing to make a difference!