Several programs have been ongoing since last semester and several new have started this semester which are still ongoing as well. Residents in the community have organized a Dungeons and Dragons group which meets nearly weekly, a Magic: The Gathering group which meets weekly, and several other residents host movie nights on a regular basis. Even when I am not doing anything in the community, the residents do something. It seems everywhere you turn in the building, something is going on. There is constant activity on the facebook group page where residents ask each other if they want to go to concerts together, hold programs, etc. Although only a few residents knew each other before the beginning of the year, now there are many close-knit groups of friends in the building who love to hang out together and do things together.

Additionally, several residents have joined the community although they do not actually live here. It has been especially great to watch the level of inclusion the residents show outsiders. Anybody can come to events and residents are always happen to welcome them to join the group. It is very common to see residents from other communities come join floor dinners or come to programs and the residents of the community have made them honorary members of the building as well.

In this past month, I have recently held several programs in which we discussed social issues. During these discussions, I was extremely and pleasantly surprised by the level of respect shown to each other when people had opposing views, and the maturity of discussion between residents. Some of these discussions occurred on bulletin boards on which residents could write in anonymously. Even here, the discussions were very mature and respectful. At first, I felt worried that the boards would be abused, but after seeing what they wrote, I was absolutely amazed by the level of respect they have shown each other and the building.

Also this month, something occurred recently that really touched my heart. My residents came to me and told me that one of the other residents was injured and was taken to the emergency room while playing a game of Ultimate Frisbee. The residents who came to me wanted to make a sign for him to show support. I got them some paint and a sheet and several residents worked together to paint a sheet sign and hanged it on the building so that when he got home from the hospital, he would see it. The resident is fine now, fortunately, but it was a big scare for the others when they heard that he was hurt.

My residents have shown a great deal of compassion and openness to each other and to outsiders, have shown a great deal of respect and have held extremely mature and thought-provoking discussions, and are constantly trying to do things together. Due to these reasons, I feel that the residents of building 28 deserve the title of Community of the Month.

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