What's
the big deal about the "D-Word?"
If
you work in college or university housing for any
amount of time, you've probably heard the term Residence
Hall used instead of the term "dorm."
In fact, most people who work in this profession
frown upon the use of the term "dorm."
The
difference may seem trivial, but the important thing
to remember is the reason behind differentiating
between the two words.
We
are focused on providing communities that focus
on people, growth and learning; places where students'
lives are enhanced through social interaction, educational
opportunities, safe facilities, academic resources
and comfortable environments.Contrast this to giving
people a building to sleep in (a dorm).
A
residence hall is a place where you live, learn,
grow and develop.
A dorm is a building.
Here
are some illustrations to make the point:
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
vs. R.E.S.I.D.E.N.C.E. Hall
DORM
=
"Dull ordinary
room of mine"
or "Dismal
Ordinary Room
of Mine"
vs.
RESIDENCE
HALL =
"Really
Exciting Socially-InterDependent
Environment
Necessary for
Creating Enthusiasm"
or
"Really
Empowering Sensational
Interesting
Dynamic Exciting
Neat Cool
Excellent Hall
And Living
Lodge"
"Really
Exciting Sensational
Individually-Designed
Enlightening
New College
Experience that
Houses an Abundance
of Life and
Love."
The
above acronyms were compiled from the following
people off of a listserv:
Adele Markowitz - Residence Life Coordinator - Georgia
Southwestern State University
Steve A. - Simpson College
E. Thayne King - Director of Residence Life - Sam
Houston State University