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You’re not alone
How to find new friendships in the dorms
By Rachel Dubinski
In my own South Tower, activities, such as Capture the Flag, promote camaraderie and competition at the same time.
During the week, I'm caught between walking to classes, sitting through almost unbearable lectures, working out, eating and finding time to call my friends.
With such a busy schedule, meeting new friends my freshman year has been tough, especially since I don't know many people from my high school who go to UWM. But living in the dormitories, I'm finding there's more offered to meet up with people than I first thought.
The most excellent and easiest tool within the dormitories is the common area. While sitting in the common area, I've watched people thread in and out, and had conversations about Halloween costumes, CNN and the Post.
It's a great starting point to make friends, especially when you're watching the same television show. Ask around and you'll probably find a group that watches The Hills, Gossip Girl or Monday Night Football on every floor and tower.
Almost all floors of the towers offer very amusing activities specifically aimed to help people get to know one another. In my own South Tower, activities, such as Capture the Flag, promote camaraderie and competition at the same time.
Resident Assistants (RAs) and the Student Housing Administrative Council (SHAC) plan a lot of activities for residents to enjoy. These things range from scavenger hunts, ice cream socials, bingo, and cookies and coloring, and a chance to all meet each other in a fun atmosphere. Check your tower. There's bound to be floor activities planned.
The newly furbished Channel Lounge is a great place to hang out. When I toured UWM last summer, I remember thinking how awesome Channel seemed, and that certainly held true.
Fridays usually hold a night full of dancing, music and those really cool colored lights at 10 p.m. During the week, video game nights are held on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 7 p.m. until midnight.
You don't have to have the best dance moves or video game skills to go. I certainly don't, but still find it fun to hang around and compliment those who do.
Even the most common areas of the dorms can be the best places to meet with new people. It's nice to hear a friendly “chai lattes with soy are really good” when you're ordering from Grind.
If you're eating with your roommate at Palm Gardens or grabbing lunch at the cafeteria, invite them to bring along some of their new friends and possibly all meet up at Pizza Shuttle or Noodles & Company sometime.
Although it's hard to find time within my schedule, I find that most activities around the dorms are planned knowing students like me are run down with classes.
Making friends really isn't that hard. When you participate in things you enjoy, you’ll meet people who enjoy it right alongside you and find you have similar interests. Before you know it, you'll find yourself hanging around them again.
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