Hello Residents,
We hope that you are all doing well. First we wanted to acknowledge that we are so glad you are back on campus and living in residence this semester! And that we know that this is a positive milestone moment now that college has moved to level 1 so how we interact with each other as a community and the Community Compact is more important than ever. Please continue to share your feedback and ideas with us as we are always interested in hearing from you.
We wanted to remind you all about the reservable spaces on campus during this semester! Students can reserve study spaces in the library, academic buildings, as well as fitness equipment in the Kendall Fitness Center (during peak times). For more information check out the Residential Life Embark Website.
Also, the Cultural Centers and Religious and Spiritual Life satellite spaces are now available for students to visit. To learn more about how to hang out at the satellite spaces visit the Community and Inclusion Embark Website or the Religious and Spiritual Life Embark Website.
Have you been able to attend any of the in-person events? Tag @mhcreslifesp21 on your Instagram photos for a chance to be featured on our account!
Community Compact Reminders
With guidelines related to COVID-19 there is a chance that you may feel peer-pressured to act in a certain way. We hope that this article will help you in facilitating these conversations with others and making decisions that are best for you and our community at this time. You are also welcome to reach out to your Residential Life student staff or access any of the Student Support resources Spring 2021.
There are no guests allowed in our residence halls at any time.
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As a reminder current on campus residents are only able to go in their own residence hall. While you may want to hold the door open for another student while entering a residence hall in order to keep the community safe you should verify that the student does live in that building.
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The definition of “guest” includes:
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Any non-Mount Holyoke student
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Any Mount Holyoke student that lives in a different building
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Any Mount Holyoke student living off campus.
Building A Beloved and Caring Community
Building a beloved and caring community that is safe and inclusive requires all community members (students, faculty, staff) to rely on one another to create an environment where people feel comfortable communicating with each other, intervening when being a bystander, and taking accountability for their actions and possible harm. One of the methods which we ask students to use when addressing the harm such as violations of the community compact is Positive Confrontation.
If you are concerned about the actions of another individual (or in this case, witness a possible violation of the community compact), we encourage you to address the other individual directly as the first step toward conflict resolution. We encourage you to engage in a constructive discussion to try and reach a common understanding. This does not imply an agreement but an “exchange of values” or “expression of concerns” which results in a viable solution for both parties.
If positive confrontation does not have the desirable outcome, you may bring any alleged violation of the community compact to our attention by completing this form. If we all work together, it increases the likelihood that everyone in our community can stay healthy and safe -- and that we can provide more access and resources.
The college will be offering opportunities for students to learn more about positive confrontation and engaging with peers in constructive ways. We will be sharing more information about how you can be a part of this soon, but check out the attached flyer for more information on positive confrontation.
Mental Health during the Time of COVID-19
Prolonged isolation and remote learning takes a toll on your mental health. Here are a couple of tips for taking care of yourself and managing stress:
Social Connection
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Reach out - others may be struggling with similar or different challenges
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Check in on your friends
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Watch a movie or play a game together remotely
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Let people know how you're doing
Accomplishments
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Create a to-do list and check off tasks as they are completed.
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Set a timer for 15 min and focus on an area of your room to clean up.
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Give yourself one realistic goal each day
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Cooking and crafting can give you a tangible result
For other tips & ways to connect with the Counseling Service check out their website: https://www.mtholyoke.edu/counseling
Job Opportunities for the 2021-2022 Academic Year
Are you interested in being an Orientation Leader, Resident Advisor, or Peer Health Educator for the 2021-2022 Academic Year? Check out the Residential Life Embark Page for future Information Sessions.
Best wishes,
Latrina Denson, Associate Dean of Students, Community & Inclusion
Rachel Alldis, Associate Dean of Students & Director of Residential Life
Ray LaBarre, Director of Public Safety and Service
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