Ten Cornell students and an advisor attended the Mid-West Affiliated Colleges & Universities Residence Halls Conference, a regional residence life conference at the University of Nebraska – Kearney, on Nov. 3 and 4.
The conference provides an opportunity for students to learn more about residential leadership, as well as network with students from institutions in Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, North and South Dakota, and the Canadian province of Manitoba. First-years Ellen Larson, Shivani Suresh, Thao Luu, and Kaylen Larson; sophomores Jarod Armenta, Jasmine Varela, Kelsey King, and Nathan Spalding; and junior Jadie Oldfield attended. Their advisor was Justin Gohdes, Assistant Director of Residence Life.
In addition to weekly meetings, fundraising, and logistics planning, the group developed a roll call video for the opening ceremonies of the conference. The conference delegation worked with Pandemonium, Cornell Cheerleaders, and Athletics to make the video, which won the “Best Roll Call” award at the conference, beating out many large state schools.
This conference was an opportunity to showcase Cornell’s vibrant Residence Life program, as well as provide valuable knowledge that will be invested back into the residence halls in the coming months. The Residence Life Office would like to make this an annual trip. Justin Gohdes has been in contact with the residential staff at the University of Iowa and may look at coordinating with them to bid for hosting the 2014 conference.