Dorms. Some may roll their eyes in disgust or shudder at the idea of living in a dorm room. However, living in a dorm is one of the best ways students can form communities and gain interpersonal ties with each other.

Many students, including even those who live on campus, don’t know that there are certain traditions being celebrated in the many dorms across campus.

John Tufnell, Resident Assistant at Oak View Hall, discussed some of these traditions.

“Hamlin started the tradition of the ‘Haunted Halls’, where students get together and turn their floor into a haunted house,” Tufnell said. “From what I can see, the traditions are starting to spread. We’re even planning a Haunted Hall contest in Oak View.”

However, not all the traditions are as structured as the haunted halls one, Tufnell explained.

o“People in Five West Hamlin, well, at least a small group of people, came up with our own tradition behind the wooden model ship on top of the VHS player,” Tufnell said. “If anyone asks why there’s a wooden ship there, we respond with ‘What ship? There’s no ship.’ It doesn’t seem to be catching on with everyone though.”

Tufnell also emphasized the importance of having these traditions.

“It helps build community. Nothing’s worse than when everyone on a floor stays inside with their doors shut. These traditions help get people out of their dorms,” he said.

He also explained that since Oak View is a new building, all eyes are on the dorm to see what new things the students will try to do this year and what new traditions will be formed.

Freshman Jessica Born described some of the things she’d like to see become traditions in the new dorm.

“Student-run events like Mario Kart and Super Smash Brother tournaments are so much fun, because we just have them in somebody’s dorm, and a ton of planning isn’t required,” Born said.

Many students enjoy organizing events to bring the residents of their dorm together.

“Having students run things really just makes things more spontaneous and fun,” resident Zak Pascua said.

This year, Tufnell said he hopes that some of the new ideas will catch on. From door decorating for the Halloween season to huge games of “Who’s Line Is It Anyway?”, Tufnell believes these activities will help the dorm residents “break out of their shells.”