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New students get extra help moving into dorms
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CAPOWSKI
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By Political science senior Ben Bush directs atmospheric sciences sophomore Michael Yaeger Friday at Yavapai Hall. Both are members of the HI Team, a group of 60 students who volunteered to help new students get settled in the dorms.
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Monday August 20, 2001 |
Arizona Daily Wildcat
RHA, returning residents form volunteer group known as 'HI Team'
Andrea Nellan admits she was relieved to hear she wouldn't have to move her heavy television set into her dorm room alone.
Nellan, a biochemistry freshman, was among the many incoming students across campus to receive assistance moving into all on-campus residence halls Wednesday through Saturday.
The help was provided by the Hall Involvement Team, a collaborative effort consisting of 60 returning residents and members of UA's Residence Hall Association. The goal of the team is to aid new and returning residents in settling into the university and the Tucson area.
The team does everything from moving boxes into the residence halls to simply providing information on residence hall laundry facilities.
Jason Poreda, RHA vice president of Campus Affairs and coordinator of this year's HI Team, said incoming students are full of questions.
"We get everything from 'Where's the best place to eat?' to 'Where's the
closest Target or Walmart?'" he said.
Volunteers for the program are recruited both through pamphlets mailed to incoming students and fliers posted at La Paz Residence Hall. The team advertised on the RHA Web site as well.
Aside from moving students in, this year's HI Team is assisting in establishing hall governments. During move-in, representatives from the HI Team supervised tables in the lobbies of the residence halls, collecting hall dues. The team will no longer collect dues once move-in has ended.
"Hopefully, we can give (hall government) a stronger base," Poreda said.
Students who volunteer are allowed to move into the residence halls three days early and receive a HI Team T-shirt and four days of free meals. However, these perks come with a price.
"They have to get up bright and early to help us," Poreda said.
Computer science junior Jason Kallelis said he was glad to join the HI Team because it gave him "the opportunity to move in early and meet more people."
Kallelis added that not all of the time spent working was easy. One incoming student required assistance with a large box of books.
"It took two people (to carry it) up three flights (of stairs)," he said.
However, Kallelis said he would recommend volunteering for the HI Team to others. Amanda Chapman, a molecular and cellular biology sophomore and vice president of services for RHA, agreed.
Chapman, who acted as food coordinator for the group and tried to make sure nobody became dehydrated, said HI Team members were also available to move freely around the residence halls to assist students while RAs were busy tending to student check-ins.
"We try to help out," she said. "Lots of (the RAs) are stuck behind a desk."
In addition to moving, the HI Team also offered assistance with block parties held on campus Saturday night as part of the university-sponsored Wildcat Welcome Week.
The block parties helped the HI Team reach their goal of welcoming students to campus. They were also a good way for HI Team volunteers to relax after a challenging week.
"It's a cool program," Poreda said. "The volunteers enjoy it."
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