Highlights from our Student Leaders by Jess Coombs

SIU Residence Life has some great things going on, and we want to showcase some of our proud moments on our blog. We also hope people considering working in RA, graduate assistant, or full-time positions with our department will take a minute to learn more about the things we are doing. More information about our department, including position descriptions, application information, and graduate and full-time staff profiles can be found on our recruitment website.

Jess Coombs is one of the Hall Directors for West Campus. Jess also serves as the adviser for the West Campus Area Council.

Working with students this year has been an amazing experience! Not only did I attend the Illinois Residence Hall Association (IRHA) Conference “Where the Wild Things Are” hosted at Western Illinois University (WIU), but I also worked with my Area Council members to put on the Saluki Rodeo. The IRHA group worked really hard to harness their inner monsters and create some great shirts, SIU giveaways, and an awesome skit. They came to represent SIU, and learn about what is happening at other Illinois Schools and take what they learned to create some great programs and opportunities for other students here at SIU.

"Inside all of us is.... hope 

Inside all of us is.... fear 

Inside all of us is.... adventure 

Inside all of us is a wild thing" 

 -Where The Wild Things Are 2009

This group had a blast at the social one evening during IRHA, getting to know others and taking some crazy photos! They weren't afraid to show off their wild sides! :)

The whole delegation, decked out for their skit

The West Campus Area Council had a great year of programming: from the Highlighter Dance Party to Open Mic Nights, and an end of the year celebration with the Saluki Rodeo. This group took months to plan the Saluki Rodeo and loved riding the bulls, going through the obstacle course, and trying to get the farthest on the bungee run. Residents from all over campus were invited to expel some extra energy before hitting the books for finals. The Area Council also teamed up with Residence Hall Dining to put out some favorite summertime foods and some of our area council members were covered in sugar from making many bags of cotton candy.

              

                       

Here you can see two of our members having a blast on the inflatables and holding on tight to the riding bull as it spun around. This group really shined in all they did this year, and have paved the way for the future of the Area Council. Working with the students at SIU, is such a privilege and they taught me as much as I taught them. I can’t wait to see what our student leaders do for the 2013-2014 school year!