Learning--From the Dorm to the Classroom

Since my last post the announcement has been made that the RFL program will not be under academic affairs. Although the reporting lines have changed I do not see much change in the way I do my work with the students. I have always made social connections with students so I can then follow-up with my academic inquiries. With the third week (how did that happen so fast) about to begin this has already started.

The first week was met with students asking anything from, "Where do I catch the bus?" to "How do I change my schedule?" Whenever anyone on staff would walk into the lobby they were met with questions of new students navigating their way around WVU. Some students were even asking, "Do I want to go home?" For this questions we asked all these students to look around at the opportunities and to try WVU out for at least a semester so that they could find their niche. At the end of the week all questions were answered and the weekend was meant for celebrating.

The weekend brought more learning. Two students learned you never know when the RFLs are going to drive up. After dinner out on Saturday evening Brian and I arrived at the building to see one cool cat just hanging out outside our door and another placing a bag on the steps and then coming down. All we had to say was "Gentlemen bring down the bag with the beer'" for us to have our first alcohol violation of the year. Brian and I have at least one each a year. The two students were cooperative and learned that you never know when you will get caught so.....DON'T TRY.

Earlier on Saturday we learned a new way to strain spaghetti. Brian had noticed that there were towels hanging from windows on the second floor. He and a RA made there way to the room to inquire why the screens were removed. You need to know the screens in Pierpont are bolted in so students should not be able to hang things from their windows. When they arrived the students tried to teach Brian that they could handle the situation and he did not need to intervene. After some talking with the RA the story is that one the boys arrived home Friday night and wanted spaghetti. After boiling the spaghetti he realized he did not have a strainer. He then cut the screen so he could use it as a strainer. We learned, although quite disgusting, a new use for a screen. While the young man learned that $100 will buy you a new screen and a strainer. An expensive lesson to learn but one that will go down in the history books here at Pierpont.