OXFORD, Miss. – A public program Friday (Sept. 18) at the University
\nof Mississippi marks the grand opening of the new residential college.
\n
The event, including a ribbon-cutting ceremony and reception, begins at
\n3 p.m. in the center courtyard of the campus community, which is just
\noff Jackson Avenue behind the Lamar Law Center.<\/p>\n
\nChancellor
\nDan Jones is slated to give the welcome; Chancellor Emeritus Robert
\nKhayat and Provost Emeritus Carolyn Staton will comment on their
\noriginal vision for the residential college; and Dan O’Sullivan, senior
\nfellow of the college, will give his view of life there after three
\nweeks into the school year.\n<\/p>\n
\nThe new state-of-the-art academic community has been bustling
\nwith activity since some 465 undergraduates moved there in time for the
\nfall semester’s opening day of classes Aug. 24.\n<\/p>\n
\nLiving at the college and interacting with the students are
\nO’Sullivan, associate professor of French, and his family: wife,
\nPatricia, and their children, Marion, 11, and Colm, 10. Patricia is an
\ninstructor in the Department of Philosophy and Religion.\n<\/p>\n
\nThe living environment is intended to nurture and broaden the
\nscope of learning. The three-story building features a dining hall,
\nfitness center, library, computer center, music practice room and study
\nrooms. Six types of room layouts for students are available, ranging
\nfrom a standard double suite to a corner suite of four single rooms.
\nFreshmen are assigned to doubles, and each suite has its own bathroom.\n<\/p>\n
\nLife seems good as the students and faculty begin to build a new kind of academic community, O’Sullivan said.\n<\/p>\n
\n“As far as I can tell, the students love living here,” he said.
\n“They find the building beautiful, their rooms comfortable and the
\nwhole community very warm, friendly and supportive.”\n<\/p>\n
\nBesides the O’Sullivans, some 30 other faculty members, chosen
\nas faculty fellows, are to be closely involved with the student
\nresidents. As senior fellow, O’Sullivan is the college’s main
\ncoordinator, in charge of scheduling activities, providing leadership
\nfor the students and organizing the faculty fellows.\n<\/p>\n
\n“When it comes down to it, my job is about mentoring the
\nstudents – mentoring them intellectually, socially and, in some
\nrespects, spiritually,” O’Sullivan said.\n<\/p>\n
\nHarry Clark, a freshman liberal arts major from Pass Christian,
\nsaid living in the residential college is everything he expected it to
\nbe and more.\n<\/p>\n
\n“I love the community here,” he said. “It’s very, very nice to
\nbe able to just go downstairs to get food instead of walking all the
\nway to the Union. The rooms are really nice, too, and I can’t wait to
\nget involved with the activities here. The tai chi class looks really
\nfun.”\n<\/p>\n
\nBrian Pfieffer, a senior criminal justice major from Lucedale,
\nmoved to the new facility from Stockard residence hall. He had lived in
\nStockard for three years and is a resident assistant.\n<\/p>\n
\n“I love the convenience of living here,” he said. “You have your
\nown dining facilities and your own private bathroom. Since I’m an RA, I
\nhave been helping to organize some of the activities here. We had a
\njoint masquerade ball with Guess Hall. They came over and we used the
\ncourtyard. Alpha Pi Alpha also had an event out in the courtyard.”\n<\/p>\n
\nFeedback from parents has also been positive, O’Sullivan said.\n<\/p>\n
\n“They have been impressed with our community from day one,” he
\nsaid. “Housing did such a great job in organizing move-in day, which
\nset the tone for the whole experience. I tell the parents that we’re
\nwatching out for their sons and daughters, and they are very
\nappreciative.”\n<\/p>\n