Themed floors new to the University

This year at the University, the Office of Housing and Residential Life (OHRL) developed new themed floors in Maria’s Towers for incoming freshmen. This year there are three themed floors: Health and Wellness on 10, True Green on 12 and Honor students on 16.

Each themed floor has two Resident Advisors (RAs). Every month there is an in-building event, an off-campus event and a guest speaker that caters to each themed floor.

Floor 10, RAs DJ Hopson and Joe Columbo’s theme for the floor is Health and Wellness. During the month of September, the tenth floor had two guest speakers from Fitness Magazine, a tour of Co-Op and Career services and a speed interview workshop.

RAs Abby Miller and Sean Herbert lead Floor 12. It has events and is even decorated to match the theme. The door decks are created out of recycled material and the floor’s lounge has a group garden. “It’s nice to live on a floor where you share a common interest with everyone,” resident Ty Rosa said.

RA Miller, stated that she felt it was easier to get her residents to participate in floor events because the events are planned around an ideology that her residents are passionate about. During the first month of school RAs Miller and Herbert along with their floor went to the Botanical Garden in Brooklyn.

Professor Nicholas Robinson, from the University’s School of Law, came to talk to Floor 12 about the environment. Resident, Olivia Hue said, “I signed up for the green floor to learn more about being environmental.”

RA Sasha Ross and RA Matt Helenek head Floor 16. In order to qualify for the Honors floor, incoming students needed to have an average high school GPA of at least 90 percent, minimum scores of 550 (critical reading) and 550 (math) on the SAT with a combined minimum score of 1200 or a minimum score of 27 on the ACT.

According to the University regulations, “honors students who do not maintain a 3.3 GPA every semester are in danger of being asked to leave the Honors College and forfeit all benefits of the Honors College.” Sonia Sternik, a resident on the honors floor felt that the themed floors were “more of a tight knit community.”

In agreement, Floor 16 RA Helenek said that he felt that the themed floors shared a different experience from the general floors.

In September, Floor 16 went on a trip to the Cloisters, had a charity event and also had Professor Bill Offutt as a guest speaker.

“Themed floors are such a great idea; I wish my class had them!” sophomore Ally Miller said, “If I was a freshman this year, I would want to live on the Wellness floor. Staying fit and healthy is one of my main priorities and I would love to live with other people who share this mission.”

Although many students chose to be on their specific themed floor, some were placed there and do not have the same feelings as the rest of their floors. Floor 12 resident Leah Kessler, shared that not every resident is willing to participate in themed floor events.

Chelsea Fritz, a sophomore who lived on Floor 11 in Maria’s Towers last year said, “I feel that the best part of living in Maria’s was the diversity throughout my floor.”

Fritz added, “I would try it. The idea seems different, but it’s an experience that I might try next year if it’s offered at the upperclassmen dorms.”