Blog Assignment Two: Writing in the Residence Halls
Everyday at the university, we are bombarded with hundreds, if not thousands, of words fighting for our attention. They come in the form of signs, pamphlets, posters, and sticky notes; flyers, bulletins and dry-erase boards, all vying to be read. View image Writing does not end in the classroom, then, but touches our personal lives. One might ask, but what purpose does this writing serve? What types of writing are we viewing on a daily basis? And how are we contributing to this linguistic environment ourselves? These are important questions to explore, since the words that we interact with in a daily, personal way help to shape us. We are being influenced both by formal writing directed towards us as students, as well as by the informal writing which we use to communicate ideas amongst ourselves. The writing surrounding us “at home” thus defines us, both as part of a larger student body and as unique individuals.
As students living in the residence halls, we encounter writing posted for the good of the larger community. These formal writings may perform basic functions, such as designating which restroom is for “Men” and which is for “Women.” They might also clarify the method for performing a basic function, such as “Washing Your Clothes in 4 Easy Steps!” View image
Given the temperamental nature of the elevator in Storrs House, residents may have found the emergency instructions on the inside door to be similarly helpful. In addition to instructing us on what to do, there are several writings warning us what not to do. In My Freshman Year, Rebekah Nathan observes that during her residential experience, “The biggest category of displays… dealt with psychological and physical health, as well as threats to health,” thus noting these warnings’ prominence throughout the halls. This is not unique; in Storrs House a bulletin board is dedicated to marijuana, alcohol, and other addictions. The bathroom stalls have even become a source of information on sexual assault and prevention, thanks to a large poster strategically placed there by the university. We are surrounded by formal writings which seek to promote our safety and well-being, and which further define us as students in a larger community.
There are also more personal types of writing directed towards us as members of the residential community. Individual halls post rules to encourage cooperation and consideration among inhabitants, which we are expected to follow. Bulletin boards and flyers inform us of upcoming meetings and events, encouraging us to get involved in campus life. These messages help define us as part of an active student body, and invite our response. Perhaps most intriguing, however, are the messages on the walls of Storrs ’ fourth floor. Printed from postsecret.com, they are anonymous secrets. Some are amusing, while others are thought-provoking. They all, however, speak to a sense of community by reminding us that whatever our secret may be, we are not alone in having one. Eventually, fourth floor residents may respond with their own secrets. Surrounding messages can thus speak to us on an official or on an emotional level while working to foster a closer community. View image
If messages directed towards us help to define our community, then the way in which we contribute our own messages helps to define us as individuals. Whether by responding to an intramural sign-up sheet, leaving a sticky note on someone’s door, or scribbling our cell number and “call me” on the dry erase board, these are ways we say, “I am here, and this is want to express.” While the methods and style of our writing varies, we write to communicate ideas, and to define our space. This carries on the theme presented in They Say/I Say by Graff and Birkenstein. The formal writings directed at us in the residence halls tell us what “They Say” we should be aware of as students, while our informal contributions allow us to respond to our environment with what “We Say,” thus personally engaging in a written dialogue in our own lives.
Examples of Student Expression in the Residence Halls:
Dry-Erase Boards-
"inside jokes" View image and messages View image
Community Boards - View image
Notes on Student's Desk; Personal Inspirations - View image
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