A Return to In-Person Programming When we talk about the Maryland Residential Experience, themes of friendships and connections, academic support, and student development are vital to the conversation and relate directly to how we impact the student experience through programming. As fall 2021 comes to a close, it is amazing to consider how different this semester has been compared to the more virtual experience of the previous academic year. We have still had to consider health and safety measures throughout the fall, but a renewed energy and appreciation for in-person programming has been evident. Here are some of the highlights of this past semester:
Fall Welcome With the exceptions of mask-wearing and the prevalence of hand-sanitizer, the events of Fall Welcome 2021 returned a sense of community building and energy far above the experience of the previous year. When Bend & Bagels filled Orem Hall at the Alumni Center with over 200 students, an additional outdoor yoga session formed just outside of the Alumni Garden. As students stood in line for their cookies at Midnight Munchies, groups formed and exchanged contacts to continue hanging out at a later date. Eager students filled the Cambridge Community Center and Prince Frederick Hall Multipurpose Room to play board games and win prizes at Trivia Night. FreeFest experienced its highest turnout ever with over 5,000 attendees connecting with campus and community resources. The Student and Community Development Programs team and the Fall Welcome committee were proud of the success of these events and thankful to all of the staff who helped contribute to and support a strong start to the year.
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Glow Dodgeball As part of the Terps After Dark program (which focuses on providing late night events for students during the first six weeks of the fall semester), the Department of Resident Life hosted Glow Dodgeball in the Grand Ballroom of the Stamp Student Union in early October. The space was transformed into a dodgeball arena with an additional area for glow-in-the-dark mini golf. Students registered teams and competed to prove that they could dodge, duck, dip, dive, and dodge with the best of them. There were ringers who subbed in across multiple teams and some that just wanted to dance to the music provided by the entertainment company, Party Crew, but it was clear that the students loved the experience.
Res Life Roundup | Fall 2021 | Vol. 4
