DIVISION OF STUDENT SERVICES |
Residence Life |
Theme Communities
Theme Communities at Reed
Living in a theme community is a great way to connect with other students, build community and enhance your residential and learning experience at Reed. Theme communities are intentionally designed living communities centered on a variety of shared academic, cultural, and personal interests. Theme housing allows students with common interests and lifestyle preferences to live together and support each other through thoughtful engagement, informal interactions and planned events. Each theme community has one or two Theme Coordinator(s) and access to additional funding for theme-related events and activities.
Theme Community & Language House Fair
The Theme Community and Language House Fair is February 19, 2013 from 8 – 9:30 p.m. in GCC- BCD! New themes, renewing themes and Language Houses will have a table with goodies, treats and information about why you should live in their theme! The purpose of the fair is for prospective members to learn about the different themes and Language Houses, and ask questions of the coordinators before submitting their application to live in a theme community.
Theme Process Timeline
- January 20: Theme proposal applications available
- February 4: Theme proposals due by noon to hooverb@reed.edu
- February 11: RLC determines themes; e-mail sent to coordinators
- February 19: Theme Community Fair in the GCC-BCD from 8 – 9:30 p.m.
- February 25-March 3: Interested students apply for themes via IRIS. Names are sent to Theme Coordinators and RLC representatives for consideration.
- March 4 – 11: Theme Coordinators and RLC representatives meet to select members
- March 13: Accepted members e-mailed and invited to join theme community
- March 18: Deadline for invited members to accept placement. Final list of residents determined
- April 1 - 3: Theme housing lottery. Accepted members sign up for a room in the theme community
Themes for 2013-14
The Residence Life Committee approved the following themes for next year. Location, size and names are all subject to change.
Returning Themes
Residence Life is pleased to welcome back the following themes and their traditions:
The Co-Op (Garden House and Farm House)
The kitchen forms the heart of the Co-op. We share meals and midnight snacks, making our own bread and granola while valiantly struggling to keep up with our own dishes. The Co-op is formed of ten returning students who have chosen to make a commitment to intentional community, consensus-based decision-making, respect and responsibility for the Honor Principle, awareness of environmental impact and ethics, and sharing a lot of really good food. We’re a family, and there may be no better feeling than coming home to the dinner bell and friends gathered at the table. Come join us! Please note: The Co-Ops are available only to upperclassmen. You can apply to live in both houses but please state which house is your preference in your application!
For more information, contact Farm House Theme Coordinator Sam Law (laws@reed.edu) or Garden House Theme Coordinator Liana Clark (lclark@reed.edu).
Japanese Culture (Scholz III)
J-Dorm, the Japanese Culture dorm, is a place for people to nerd out about all aspects of Japanese culture. This ranges from our weekly movie nights (Wednesday at 9) to kicking butt in Smash tournaments to eating ridiculous amounts of mochi to giggling over silly anime, but no matter what, we aim to inform and entertain. Everyone from the diehard Japan fan who can debate the symbolism in their favorite Satoshi Kon movie to the naïve and curious beginner who vaguely remembers that Pokemon is from Japan is invited to our community. Youkoso!
For more information, contact Theme Coordinators Alexandra Mariani (almaria@reed.edu) and Peter Riehlman (priehlma@reed.edu).
Mad Science (Foster II & III)
If the words “For Science!” thrill your heart, you may belong here. Mad Sci is a close-knit community for all those who love science and want to live with others who love it too — whether that means late-night biochemistry study sessions, making liquid nitrogen ice cream, or just watching Doctor Who as a dorm. Anyone who wants to become part of this group of spontaneous, engaging, and generally awesome people need only walk into a common room and join the conversation!
For more information, contact Theme Coordinators Austin Humphrey (auhumph@reed.edu) and Sam Liebow (sliebow@reed.edu).
Outhaüs (Naito I)
The Outhaüs is more than a residence hall. It is a family of Reedies interested in having fun in the great outdoors. It is a place where climbers, backpackers, cyclists, snow enthusiasts, kayakers, and anyone else with a passion for the outdoors can live together and get outside as often as they like.
For more information, contact Theme Coordinators Jimmy LaBelle (jlabelle@reed.edu) and Galen Blair (blairg@reed.edu).
Random House (Old Dorm Block – Kerr I & II)
Random House is the abode for the verbally inclined, the literature obsessed, the edification intrigued – the Reedie excited to read. Converse and live in a space not only occupied by peers excited to discuss literature and do some extracurricular exploration, but filled with the imaginations, opinions, and characters of great authors, poets, and essayists. Every month the floor gathers over a meal by a roaring fire to discuss a book chosen by a room, led by those students.
For more information, contact Theme Coordinators Erin McConnell (emcconne@reed.edu) and Brynn Tran (btran@reed.edu).
Tír na nÓg - Land of the Young (Griffin, McKinley, and Woodbridge)
One Dorm to rule them all, One Dorm to find them,
One Dorm to bring them all, and in the darkness bind them,
In the land of Tír na nÓg where the shadows lie.
One does not simply walk into Mordor, but one can walk into Tír na nÓg. However, we can't guarantee that you'll ever want to leave. Here there be dragons, science fiction, fantasy, and a friendly community of nerd folk. This residence hall is about imagining, sharing, experiencing and telling tales from the distant future and far off realms. Come share your story with us. Welcome home!
For more information, contact Theme Coordinators Gracie Rittenberg (rittenbg@reed.edu), Alexandra Smith (alsmith@reed.edu) and Ryan Wright (rywright@reed.edu).
New Themes
The Residence Life Committee is happy to announce the addition of two new theme communities for the 2013-14 year! Let’s give them a warm welcome!
Quiet Mind (Naito III - Southside)
The Quiet Mind community is dedicated to spiritual living and cultivation of compassion and peace. Though the theme coordinators’ primary experience is in Zen Buddhism, we welcome students of all spiritualties and religions. Quiet Mind is a community of spiritual support and providing a balance to the Reed culture. Activities can include meditation, prayer, mindfulness tasks, body/mind practices, and spiritual sharing.
For more information, contact Theme Coordinators Rebecca Shafer (rshafer@reed.edu) and Molly Louise Jackson-Nielsen (mjackson@reed.edu)
Music Appreciation Society (Chittick)
The Music Appreciation Society is a collection of music lovers of all kinds looking to share their passion for life and sound. Talk music, listen to music and play music (at reasonable levels and times, of course!). We are looking to create a healthy and tight community of creative spirits where there is going to be a free exchange of music and ideas. As a member of The Music Appreciation Society, you will have the opportunity to partake on concert field trips, mix tape exchanges and listening sessions. All members are encouraged to be active participants in the formation of the theme culture, and jam our way into paradise!
For more information, contact Theme Coordinators Cylvia Jean (C.J.) Davis (cydavis@reed.edu) and Orestis Papaioannou (papaior@reed.edu)
Living Options
In addition to these great themes, Residence Life continues to offer the following living options:
Arabic Culture House (Bragdon 201-210)
Students interested in the language and cultures of the Arabic-speaking world are invited to join this interest hall. Students will live with a young Fulbright scholar selected by the Institute of International Education to study at Reed College and enhance Reed community understanding of Middle Eastern cultures and the Arabic language. Students with background in Arabic language who wish to continue their study are particularly encouraged to join this community although all students regardless of language background are encouraged to apply.
Substance Free (Sullivan II & Sullivan III)
Are you looking for the perfect residence hall environment? Do you want a community full of fun, creative, accepting members? Love the weekend parties, but prefer to live in a quieter, substance-free space? Never fear! The Sub-Free Community is here! As a sub-free community, this residence hall agrees to leave tobacco, alcohol, and other substances at the door. Full of wonderful people, a warm atmosphere, and lots of fun, Sub-Free might be your ideal theme community.
Women’s Floor (Bragdon III)
The women’s floor is a living option and not a theme community. We are still collecting applications so that people who desire to live in a small close community of women can have a place to live. Any spaces that are not filled by applications will become available in the lottery
Questions? Need more information?
Please contact Residence Life Committee advisor Britt Q. Hoover at hooverb@reed.edu.
Approved Themes for 2012-13
The Residence Life Committee approved the following themes for next year. Location, size and names are all subject to change.
Returning Themes:
Returning Living Options
New Themes
Art Dorm (Location TBD; Chittick or Woodbridge)
The primary goal of this community is to not only enjoy spontaneous art, but to participate in its creation. While there are theme dorms organized primarily around appreciation of particular forms of art, Reed lacks a dorm committed to creating visual and performing arts, and to discussing the importance of creative endeavors in daily life. We want to provide students with opportunities for artistic collaboration, with varied media and levels of seriousness. Even for the most scientific, innovation is an important skill to learn, and living in close proximity to others who are also attempting to make things for themselves will help to foster creativity.
For more information, contact Theme Coordinators Liana Clark (lclark@reed.edu) and Julia Selker (jselker@reed.edu).
R.A.S.C.A.L.S. (Location TBD; Chittick or Woodbridge)
The purpose of R.A.S.C.A.L.S is to foster community around and expand skill sets including but not limited to: fire-spinning, aerial silks, tight rope and slacklining, mixed-dance and movement arts, juggling, unicycling, miming, juggling fire while unicycling, and so forth. Our other goals include providing a space for interested students to explore circus-related arts that they would otherwise not be exposed to.
For more information, contact Theme Coordinators Laura Brussel (lbrussel@reed.edu) and Eric Whittier (whittier@reed.edu).