​Giving independent housing meaning

As first-year students begin to consider housing options for next year, they have doubtless heard of the very different residential experiences of those who choose selective living groups versus those who choose independent housing. This time last year, we pointed out on the lack of agency independent students have over their residential communities compared to affiliated students. The reasons we cited then continue to contribute to the weaker sense of community in independent houses, but Duke Student Government's Academic Affairs committee offers hope as it introduces a new kind of independent housing model next fall. Located in Edens 1A, the Visions of Freedom living-learning community is a philosophy, political science and political economy-themed house. In addition to bringing together students with similar academic interests, students in the LLC will be encouraged to take a house course together and receive funding to invite guest lecturers, go on house trips and participate in faculty outings and mentorship opportunities.

Theming houses academically or otherwise is an innovative way to build stronger independent residential communities along the lines of shared interests, values and identities. While the Visions of Freedom living-learning community is academically-themed, other existing communities like LangDorm and Smart Home center on language and sustainable living. Fundamentally, these common interests provide a basis for interaction that lottery-placed blocks lack when individuals are thrown together. But more importantly, themed houses would grant students the agency to select into a community they feel at home in, selected in a different way than rush. This promotes greater buy-in as students feel as if they are a part of a housing structure with purpose.

While SLGs do not all have themes or explicit tenets, newcomers make a greater effort to form relationships within these communities. Part of this is due to the exclusivity of SLGs. While members can ground some sense of group identity in the intentional selectivity of the process. Without the norms of shared membership in a community, students also lack assurance that their gestures of friendship will be reciprocated. Lastly, an itinerary of engaging events and programming is key to providing the shared experiences on which community is reinforced. Whereas SLGs have funds and the organizational drive to maintain memorable traditions and plan events, independent students may find themselves settling more than they would like for free food in the common room.

Alternative independent housing models like living-learning communities and themed houses have the potential to exist between SLG and loosely independent communities. Meaningful events like house outings and faculty dinners provide settings for students to get to know each other and bond over their interests. With living-learning communities, students can find abundant mentorship opportunities amongst older students who are on similar academic or career paths as them. The community modeled in the Visions of Freedom LLC has great potential for growth, not only in the number of students it hosts, but also in expanding to other academic areas and themes. Initiating as well as lending continuity to student-student and student-faculty relationships from the first year. The pilot living-learning community is an exemplary step in the right direction for making Duke’s residential experience an inclusive and fulfilling one for all students.

Correction: An earlier version of this editorial mistakenly referred to the Visions of Freedom Living-Learning Community as an extension of the similarly titled first-year FOCUS program and failed to reflect that the LLC was introduced by DSG's Academic Affairs committee. The Chronicle regrets the error.