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Res. Halls Vs Dorms

Residence Hall not Dorm from Auburn University

The following is Adapted from "Why Do We Call Them Residence Halls"
at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. I think its really good.

Why Do We Call Them Residence Halls?

On a Caribbean cruise some time ago, a wealthy passenger, a jeweler by
trade, enthusiastically approached the captain proclaiming, "Captain,
your boat is simply marvelous!" In graciously acknowledging the
compliment, the captain pointed out that the use of the term "boat" was
inappropriate, and that the boat was indeed a ship. The passenger, not
understanding the distinction, promised never again to utter such a
reference.

After several days of confinement on the captain's ship, the
passenger/jeweler again approached the captain to inquire as to when the
boat would next take port. Not being the most tolerant, the captain
angrily replied, "If you insist on referring to my ship as a 'boat,' I
must counter with reference to expensive pearls as 'beads.'" Sudden
enlightenment struck the passenger; the faux pas was not understood. A
boat will get you from here to there and little else. A ship serves
many functions, and provides a variety of services in getting a
passenger from here to there.

If any lesson is to be learned from this, imagine if you will, the
sensitivity that is felt by a member of the student services profession
when one refers to a "residence hall" for which they are responsible as
a "dorm." The "boat" can indeed be a graceful ship and the "dorm
likewise can be a dynamic multipurpose residence hall. A residence hall
can serve as a community center and impact the lives and personal
development of students during travels from freshmen year to graduation.

Over the years we have seen the evolution of hundreds of federal, state,
and local institutions, whose mission it has become to socialize members
and foster positive personal development; churches, day camps, schools,
clubs, and a myriad of others exist for this purpose. As Nevitt Sanford
pointed out in Self and Society (NY, Atherton Press, 1966). "These are
agencies through which an individual passes for a limited period of time
for the purpose of being changed in some desired way."

The center of any institution of higher education is the student. In
passing through a university, the student experiences and is effected by
many "systems." Aside from the primary curriculum system, no other
system of the university has the potential to impact the passing student
more than hi/her place of residence. It is here that the "boat/dorm-
ship/residence hall" distinction is of paramount importance. The
absence of a university wide understanding of this potential impact may
mean the university may miss a significant opportunity to educate the
student.

(Adapted from "Why Do We Call Them Residence Halls" at the University of
Massachusetts-Amherst)

DORM "Dull ordinary room of mine"

RESIDENCE HALL "Really Exciting Socially-InterDependent Environment
Necessary for Creating Enthusiasm"

From

Adele Markowitz
Residence Life Coordinator
Georgia Southwestern State University

DORM: "The Dismal Ordinary Room of Mine vs.

RESIDENCE HALL: Really Empowering Sensational Interesting Dynamic Exciting Neat Cool Excellent Hall And Living Lodge"

steve anderson
simpson college

For several years now, I have tried to explain the difference in dorm
vs. residence hall to the parents at our freshman orientation sessions.
Like I'm sure many people do, I tell them that dorm stands for "dismal
ordinary room of mine." I assure them that we have none of those at Sam
Houston State University, and then I tell them that residence hall stands
for "Really Exciting Sensational Individually-Designed Enlightening New
College Experience that Houses an Abundance of Live and Love." They
start laughing long before I finish, but it is interesting to note that
later in the presentation when they get the opportunity to ask questions,
most of them remember not to use dorm and if they forget, they are
quickly reminded by the rest of the parents in the group. It's fun,
light-hearted, but it makes the point.

By the way, the residence hall definition I mentioned previously--the
first time I saw it the RHA at University of Wisconsin at LaCrosse was
cited as being the creator. I don't have any way of knowing if that's
true, but I take my hat off to those creative students if they actually
did create it, or if they simply liked it enough to embrace it and use it
on their campus.

E. Thayne King
Director of Residence Life
Sam Houston State University
Box 2416
Huntsville, TX 77340
936-294-1808
936-294-1920 (fax)

From: "David G.Butler" <dbutler@UDel.Edu>
Date: Tue, 01 Aug 2000 03:32:45 -0400

In response to Kellie Burdge:

My residence life staff got very hung up on wording so I enjoyed having
fun with them one year. I started my first talk during training telling
them all the wonderful things we did in the dorms over the summer break.
I talked about renovation of dorms, cleaning of dorms, conference in the
dorms and more. I could see them starting to boil. I closed by
explaining that they were dorms all summer but now that they were back
and students were soon to arrive they turn into residence halls. Dorms
are buildings. Residence halls are about people, growth and learning.

When it comes to convincing others on campus to call them residence halls
I think we have to be careful about approach. I've seen too many people
get hung up on wanting others to use our language without any substance
for making the change. We say we are part of the learning experience but
can't show them how. Rather than focusing on the words, I'd focus on the
mission. Call them whatever you want to look for evidence that the
residence hall living experience makes a different.

Personally I'm focused on showing the difference. That's, in part, what
the ACUHO-I Benchmarking Project is all about. In my consultant role to
ACUHO-I I work to make sure our field has evidence. You can learn about
the project by clicking on the ACUHO-I web page and go to Benchmarking:
http://www.acuho.ohio-state.edu Without assessing our outcomes we lack
substance to argue mission.

Dave Butler

The content on these pages was originally provided by Brian C. Steinberg, the founder of http://www.theallygroup.org and http://www.safezoneforall.com (Creater of the previous: http://www.residentassistant.com/reslifepro)