Freshman and FYSH

What is FYSH? 

The Goal of FYSH (First Year Students at Hillel) is to help first year students find their place within the greater (Jewish) campus community.

FYSH consisted of two components this past year: The Big FYSH and the little FYSH.   The Big FYSH are upper classmen that were designated to a specific dorm, planned programs for those students and acted as mentors to the Freshman to better know and feel comfortable around campus.  Unfortunally the heads of FYSH flaked out right in the beginning of the semster and really did not crae what was going on.  No one felt ownership of this program and I ended up doing all of the work.  I didnt mind doing the work, but I was under the impression that this was student lead, otherwise I would have taken over from the beginning.

FYSH is a great idea, I think that it was successful in many ways, however improvements are needed in order to perfect this program (that it why we write this stuff down!).

This year there were great Big FYSH and some not so great.  Some of the most suscessfull FYSH programs, were

Fredshmen chill at Smoothie King (we went through 100 smoothies)

Poker and Root Beer Float Night in Towers

FYSH bowling (we are going to do this once a month next year)

Residence Halls / Dorm Life

PUBLIC DORMS

All public dorms are located on the UT campus and are run out of UTs Division of Housing and Food.  There are 13 public dorms at UT!  Although there are probably Jewish students living in all of them, we have decided to focus on 5 dorms (3 private and 2 public) that we think have the largest Jewish student populations and are more conducive to Hillel programs. 

Since these dorms are under the auspices of the University, there is a lot of red tape and a lot of important people that you do not necessarily have to get approval from in order to have Hillel programs in the dorms.  Area coordinators oversee one or more dorms in terms of rules and regulations, as well as special privileges oversee public dorms.  They are comparable to the resident directors in the private dorms. 

The RAs usually sponsor dorm programs and are very laid back.  In the past, a student in the dorm has asked their RA to sponsor the program we want to have and it has not been a problem.  I have found that the best way to have an RA sponsored event is to go through students who are living in that dorm.  Another way to get a program sponsored is through the RHA.

Resident Hall Associations (RHA) acts like an in-house student government and they help to plan programs (of all sorts).  All of their programs have to be open to everyone in the dorm and they have funding to help this happen.  We have not worked with them in the past, although it would be interesting to do a Chanukah-Christmas-Kwanzaa event or a Holocaust program. 

Jester East / West

The Dirt

This is the largest public dorm in the country, housing over 3, 000 students!  Rumor says that it was designed by an architect who also builds prisons (the windows dont even open!) but the lobbies and lounges can be great for Hillel programs.  There are a lot of hidden Jews here and we are meeting more and more of them each year they are in the middle of campus so many of them dont even know where Hillel is!

Tabling

Reserve a spot for the table online at http://129.116.71.123/Boothapp/detail.html

(You must do this at least 2 weeks in advance).  I think that if Hillel has filled out a form to sit on the west mall and jester has a copy of it, you can just do it on that specific day (if you bring the table). 

I tabled in Jester a few times, and saw completely different students than on the west mall.  You should try to table there once a week or so.  In Jester Center (where the classrooms are) there are many student organizations that set up tables (primarily minority Greeks) and there is a ton of student traffic. 

Advertising

All publicity must be stamped for approval at the front desk in the Jester East lobby it only takes a second.  There are 2 bulletin boards to hang posters, one in East and one in West.  Be sure you do not advertise alcohol of free food to big or you may get some students that Hillel is not targeting.   Flyers must get approved by the Division of Housing & Food and then you need to drop off 75 flyers at the Jester West desk for distribution to the RAs.  I have emailed flyers to RAs before but that is less reliable because you never know if they took the time to print out and post your flyer.

Programming

I did not do many programs in Jester this year.  I participated in a panel on different religions and I wanted to do a program about the relationship of African Americans and Jews, but it wasnt approved.  Last year they did several programs in Jester all in the Jester East lobby.  Programs are best done right after dinner is over and the cafeteria is closed because students are around.  Some of the floors in Jester are designated as specific types of floors and may be more interested in co-sponsoring a program. 

Kinsolving (and the Honors Quad)

The Dirt

This is the second largest dorm on campus and houses over 700 women.  Since it has its own co-ed cafeteria, it is conducive to programming in the lobby around dinnertime.  This past year we had many students who lived in either Kinsolving or the surrounding honors dorms. Since Kinsolving has the cafeteria, I often met the students for lunch and they would swipe me in to eat. 

Tabling

I did not table this year at Kinsolving, but I would love to try it especially around the High Holidays, Chanukah, and Passover.  I suggest talking to some of the girls ahead of time to help out with the table and setting it up next to the dining room during dinnertime.

Advertising

Kinsolving is a difficult place to publicize events they are very strict about what can be posted.  You must bring one poster or flyer to the lobby and write your name and phone number on the back.  They will approve it (usually within 24 hours) and then post it on the bulletin board by the mailbox.  If you talk to them ahead of time you may be able to put a poster in the lobby the day of the event, if the event is in Kinsolving.  Be sure to tell them that the event is open to everyone and you dont have to be Jewish to participate.

Programming

I had a few events at this dorm, mostly revolving around the holidays.  There was a Chanukah Candle lighting service every night for Kinsolving and the surrounding dorms but there was an issue with having fire in the lobby so they had to do it outside.  Also, I had a Kinsolving dessert right around Passover time, which was super successful. 

PRIVATE DORMS

It is important to meet the resident directors and RAs in each dorm and drop in and visit them as often as possible this can pay off in the long run or when you need a favor for them.  They are all very nice and helpful. 

Castilian

The Dirt

There are a lot of Jewish students here, but less are Greek and the students are more diverse than at Towers.  The rooms are small but it is still a great place to live.  More foreign students have started living here and I heard that they had trouble filling all of their rooms this past year but now they are offering all sorts of perks so I think it will fill up again.  When full, there are almost 700 students living there.

Tabling

The main floor/lobby is on the 11th floor and there is usually already a table set up next to the Cordova Café entrance.  The staff is very helpful and will proved you with anything you need.  Sometimes they even let you get dinner or frozen yogurt.  It is best to table around dinnertime with another student who lives in Castilian because then s/he will attract his/her friends to participate.  Students are usually surprised to see Hillel at Castilian because most of them think that Towers is the Jewish dorm.

Advertising

The best way to publicize events at Castilian is to make 2 posters one for the 1st floor office and one for the 11th floor lobby.  Also, make 13 flyers and give them to Ben or Harrison to hang up on each floor, plus the first floor and the lobby.

Programming

The programs I did this year had a varying amount of success.  Since the students here are involved in more diverse activities and since there are less Jewish students here, it is more difficult to get a good turnout.  Tabling is great because you attract Jews and non-Jews and they Jewish students dont feel as singled out.  I also recommend calling the freshmen ahead of time to personally invite them to the program.  I also called specific people to eat with me in the cafeteria when I was hungry. 

Dobie

The Dirt

Dobie is the closest dorm to Hillel, although that doesnt mean that they are more active than other students.  Before Towers was renovated, this was the stereotypically Jewish dorm.  Almost 950 students liver here and I think it is one of the tallest buildings in Austin (27 floors, not including the mall).  Students of all ages live here, not just freshmen, so there is a possibility for more diverse types of activities.  Despite the shift to Towers, there is still a significant group of freshmen that live here.  Most of them are not Greek and are not initially inclined to be involved with Hillel.  Betsy lived at Dobie as a freshman so she will be able to give you more info about it. 

Tabling

I did not table here this year but I think it could work, especially if it was catered to the general students, and not specifically to Jewish students, i.e. Chanukah.  Try to get permission to table in front of the elevators there are always a lot students waiting but Dobie staff usually does not let you set up anything there because they think it is too high-traffic.  You can set up next to the dining hall a great place to see students during mealtime.  They are also pleasantly surprised to see Hillel in a dorm other than Towers.

Advertising

The best is to drop off 27 flyers at the front desk at least a week before the program.  Nina will hand them out at the RA meeting so they can be posted on each floor.  I also bring an extra 8 ½ x 11 flyer to put on the bulletin board by the front desk.  There is a closed in bulletin board that they are willing to put a Hillel poster in, as long as there are not any Dobie events going on (call ahead and ask).

Programming

Aside from the normal programs, which are done in the typical dorm, Dobie is unique because the rooms are bigger.  Thus, it is possible to do small group events in someones room invitations are a must!  Also there is a specific movie room, but it is hard to find so you have to have directions for people or lots of signs up.  There are also several meeting rooms but they are behind closed doors so students will not drop in to see whats going on.  Try to work out with Nina to set up an activity in the lobby in front of the elevators just be sure that you dont take up too much space. 

University Towers

The Dirt

Towers is known as The Jewish Dorm.  The Rooms are set up apartment style and are not as open as the other dorms.  Most of the population at the dorm is Greek and about half of the students are Jewish.  Grant Kirk was the RD, but I think he is leaving next year. 

Tabling

I often tabled in Towers this past year.  It is a great way to meet people and see those who you already know.  As usual, it is best to have a student or two with you.  I tabled around dinnertime usually with an easy activity for the students to do.  I would just call Grant a couple of days before and tell him what I needed from him and he would set it up for me.  If there isnt a table at the front door, he RA sitting at the front desk will get you one. 

Advertising

Print out about 30 flyers for each floor.  There are 9 livable floors but several towers so it is good to put the flyer wherever possible.  There are bulletin boards on each floor by the elevators.  There are really great about hanging flyers around the dorm.  Also you can always put flyers on the table in the lobby by the front door.

Programming