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Operation Move-In 2023: Join Us and Make a Difference at Georgia Southern University!
As the start of a new academic year approaches, we’re gearing up to welcome a fresh wave of new students to our many vibrant campuses. First-year and returning students will move into on-campus residence halls on August 11, 2023, and we need YOUR help in welcoming them! Give back and feel amazing helping over 5,000 students move into their home away from home.
Volunteer today for Operation Move-In by clicking one of the links below:
Operation Move-In is an annual event hosted by University Housing that aims to ensure a smooth transition for our incoming students, but it’s so much more than that. It’s a chance to embrace the spirit of community, forge meaningful connections and make a lasting impact on the lives of our newest Eagles. Here at Georgia Southern, we aim to #SupportEveryEagle and connect with our community.
By volunteering for Operation Move-In, you become an ambassador of True Blue spirit. You’ll contribute to the long-standing tradition of hospitality and support that defines our university. Plus, it’s a chance to show our new students what being a true Eagle is all about! Visit our volunteer website for more information, and sign up now: https://auxiliary.georgiasouthern.edu/housing/operation-move-in-information/volunteer-for-omi/.
Virtual Tours Available for Each Residence Hall
Virtual tours are available for each residence hall on the Statesboro and Armstrong campuses. Visit each residence hall page, view your future room and check the measurement list for each room.
If you have any questions, please contact housing@georgiasouthern.edu.
Resident advisor advocates for environmental awareness during Tybee Beach cleanup
Michelle Villanueva, a resident advisor of Windward Commons on the #ArmstrongCampus, recently organized a Tybee Beach cleanup event and education session for students within the hall.
Michelle partnered with Fight Dirty Tybee, a community organization that increases awareness about the ongoing environmental problems we face today and the importance of sustainability in our communities. The group organizes the event each Sunday on Tybee Beach, cleaning up trash and sorting recyclables. Participants bonded while learning about the importance of sustainability.
Michelle’s goal is for students of Windward Commons, and throughout the Armstrong Campus of Georgia Southern University, to become more aware and involved in their campus community. Great job, Michelle! #LiveOnGS
For more information on Fight Dirty Tybee, visit their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/FightDirtyTybee/.
University Housing earns national, regional recognition from NACURH, SAACURH
Georgia Southern University Housing recently garnered recognition with the Organization of the Month and the Student of the Month regional titles through the Of The Month (OTM) awards with The South Atlantic Affiliate of College and University Residence Halls (SAACURH) and the National Organization of the Month title for National Association of College and University Residence Halls (NACURH), Inc. in recent months.
Sponsored by the National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH), OTMs are ways to recognize the efforts of students and staff on college campuses within housing departments.
The Organization of the Month and OTMs are given to organizations that actively contribute to the student leadership, recognition or other aspects of residence life during the month of nomination. University Housing earned the award in January 2019 after professional and student staff members worked tirelessly to move 330 students out of a residence hall and into various other complexes in just a few days. Though this was already one of the busiest weeks of the semester, the team managed to accomplish the goal.
“We saw the whole department join forces and become a united team to cover anything and everything that was thrown at us,” said nominator Assistant Director of Residence Education Casey Weaver. “This team truly rose to the occasion. As a member of the leadership team, I can truly say if it had not been for this team’s dedication, passion, willingness to do whatever it takes and commitment to our University, this outcome would have been very different.”
The department earned the regional title for SAACURH in February and went on to earn the NACURH national title this March.
The Student of the Month award is given to a student who has made outstanding contributions to the residence halls through leadership, motivation, programming, volunteering and/or acting as a role model for others during the month of nomination. Nicole Maksym earned the title in November 2018 after she risked her life to save other students from a fire in her residence hall earlier that month. Nicole noticed the fire and put it out with an extinguisher before alerting staff members.
“Nicole acted when she did not have to,” said Colton Goodman, resident director and Maksym’s nominator. “Without out residents working together as a community and caring for their spaces, we would not function.”
A wall mount bearing the signatures of hall facilities staff, resident advisors and other building staff was hung commemorating Maksym’s efforts and care.
“If that fire burned for another 30 seconds, we would have been in a heap of trouble,” said facilities staff member Jeff Joyner.
To learn more about NRHH OTMs, visit https://www.nrhh.nacurh.org/otms.
Women of Aux: Arianna Fournier
If you looked up the word “resilient” in the dictionary, you’d probably find a picture of Watson Hall Resident Advisor (RA) Arianna Fournier.
Arianna has a brittle bone condition known as Osteogenesis Imperfecta. She tells us this is the reason why she is “short and fragile, and in some form of wheels.”
When Arianna was looking at colleges, she imagined it like any other college experience: living on campus, meeting new people and late night study sessions in the library. But when she shared her dreams out loud, someone told her that she should look at smaller schools because it would be “easier for her.” Arianna, unphased by a challenge, didn’t want to be boxed in by one person’s perception of her abilities. A few months later, she declared a major and started her life in Statesboro.
While Arianna couldn’t be deterred from pursuing her education, college life didn’t come without its challenges. Around this time last year, Arianna broke her femur. She recalled the incident as having been scary and hard, but from there she had some really positive changes happen.
“I can 100 percent say I wouldn’t have been able bounce back it without my friends– everything from getting someone to pick me up off the sidewalk to helping me get to class while I waited for my scooter to come in,” said Arianna. “Without them, I don’t know if I would be where I am, having the impact that I do.”
Not only have Arianna’s friends been an important piece of helping Arianna transition into college life, but Stella Young, a comedian and disability advocate, has also been an inspiration. Arianna appreciates Young’s approach to discussing disabilities because it lightens the mood and releases tension surrounding a typically tense subject. Arianna channels that comedy into sharing her own story.
“She talks about how we often look at those with disabilities doing normal, daily activities as inspirational,” said Arianna. “I promise I don’t want to get out of bed as much as every other college student.”
For Arianna, being an RA gives her the opportunity to guide and encourage freshmen during their first year of college because she’s been there before. She knows what that’s like.
“I absolutely love getting to have a part in helping my residents fulfill all of their potential,” said Arianna. “Working with first-year students, I’m surrounded by the nervous energy and the wide eyes, and it reminds me of how wonderful and scary college is.”
Taking a leap of faith and going against the advice of attending a smaller school, becoming an RA, advocating for those with disabilities and making lifelong friends are gifts she didn’t think she would receive during her time at Georgia Southern.
When she reflects on the last three years Arianna, “doesn’t know if ‘little’ me would believe it.”
Click here to read the full story of Women of Aux in the Aux Now Magazine.