Story by Bridgette McAuliffe, Staff writer
Photo by Nick Bohannon/The News
At Murray State, it feels as if it’s a crime to call on-campus housing dormitories. Residential colleges help make Murray feel more like a home away from home while in school.
Residential College Pride Day was celebrated on Sept. 19 on the Carr Health Lawn. Students and faculty from each college represented their community by passing out candy and snacks while interacting with students walking to class. Each college set up a tent on the lawn with representatives from Residential College Council doing everything from playing music to making popcorn and snacks for students.
Jila Bracken, freshman from Louisville, Kentucky, serves as secretary for White College. Bracken said she has served in multiple officer positions in school and church before, so she definitely knew Residential College Council was something she wanted to be a part of.
“It’s been great so far because it’s like a family bond,” Bracken said. “We work together and are very connected as a team. We’re not just living in a dorm, we’re living in a college that’s a family.”
Katrina Ricker, junior from Louisville. Kentucky, is the international student representative for Regents College and is responsible for engaging international students and helping them become a part of the Regents community. She has been a part of Regents College for two years and was seeking to become more involved.
“I love working with the international students,” Ricker said. “They’re some of the sweetest people I’ve ever met, so when the position opened, it just made sense for me to apply.”
Levi Estes, senior from Princeton, Kentucky, and resident advisor at Lee Clark College, believes student involvement is important to get students out of their room and interacting with each other.
“It lets you do things you otherwise wouldn’t do and builds a community,” Estes said.
Estes said one of the great things about Clark College is how welcoming the community is.
“It’s like a big family here, and everyone is so engaged and wants to get involved,” Estes said. “You don’t see anyone that really wants to just stay in their room.”
Crystal Coel, director of Speech and Debate Union, is the head of Elizabeth College and exudes enthusiasm and pride for her community. She is the longest running college head, this year marking her 12th year with “Lizo.”
Coel loves all of the Lizo students, both on and off campus, and truly appreciates how engaged each of them is in the residential college community.
“What makes Elizabeth special is our personal love for who we are,” Coel said. “We have amazing traditions and we really love who we are.”
Coel herself is deeply fond of Elizabeth College traditions, including their call “Lizo, You Know,” which is the oldest
residential college call on Murray State’s
campus.
Courtney Hartman, freshman from St. Joseph, Illinois, has her residential college within her name, and light-heartedly said she is Hart.
“I really like that there’s always someone in the lobby and somebody to talk to,” Hartman said. “Everyone talks to each other and there are almost automatic friendships.”
Students and faculty are passionate about their own college, the residential college system and getting students more involved. Residential colleges provide a community of friends and activities that develop lasting networks and support systems.