Martell Audate ’24 counts his role as a resident assistant as one of the highlights of his college career. For three years, he has helped his peers cope with stress, distraction, and social challenges in order to forge new connections. In the spring of 2022, Audate heard that the university was opening a boarding hall specializing in health and wellness, and he knew he wanted to be part of that community.
“This has been my best year as an RA,” Audathe said of her current job at Champi Hall’s new Wellbeing Living Learning Community. “I want people to contribute and participate in the life of the dorms and campus. I want to help them make connections. It could be a contributing factor to leaving here with it.”
Recent research shows that Ms. Oudate is not alone; a growing number of students are choosing a lifestyle focused on health and abandoning the traditional party stereotypes associated with the college experience. In response, and with society’s focus on improving mental health, higher education institutions across the country are offering special interest housing that supports health and well-being.
“Nowadays, everyone is becoming more health-conscious. More and more students are looking to live a healthier lifestyle, even if they are not completely drug-free,” says Graduate School Assistant and Student Health Director. said Caroline Robinson ’23, a member of the education team.
Substance-free, health-focused housing is not a new concept. Since the early 1990s, dozens of universities have offered options to students seeking quieter and more focused spaces to pursue their academic interests. Some people seek drug-free or healthy dormitory living due to their own recovery from addiction or family history. Some choose to live there for religious reasons, and a growing number of college athletes choose this residence as they focus on their athletic and academic futures.
“We are seeing an increasing number of students from a variety of backgrounds and reasons choosing to live drug-free lives,” said Joy LaGrutta, associate director of student health education.
demand
Demand from students and families was part of the impetus for more wellness-focused housing options at Holy Cross, said Edwin Coolbaugh, director of housing operations.
Holy Cross saw an increase in students and parents seeking alcohol-free weekend events and activities in the spring of 2021. Subsequent focus group results showed that students also wanted a living space without the distractions of party culture. Students applied for 40 spaces to live on one floor of Loyola Hall, where substances are prohibited. 60 people applied.
“They really wanted a program about where they lived, but not necessarily about learning about living without substances. They wanted to be part of a social community that supported living without substances. We created programs and activities that reaffirmed who we wanted to be,” Coolbaugh said.
Students gather at the front entrance of the new Ciampi Hall, a wellbeing living learning community. (Photo by Michael Ivins/Holy Cross)
Psychology professor Tomi Saaki points out that college students are especially prone to unhealthy behaviors when trying to manage negative emotions because their executive functions and stress management skills are underdeveloped. Neuroscience shows that the brain is still very much under development at this age, which coincides with the time when older teens and early 20s assume adult expectations of behavior, responsibility, and decision-making. .
“Sometimes we all do things to relieve our frustrations, and sometimes that includes food or substance use. These are the things that get us into trouble. is the only strategy and mechanism at their disposal,” said Hayaki, who studies emotion regulation in relation to drug use and eating disorders. “Generationally, this age group has a lot on their plate. Without proper coping mechanisms, the consequences of drug use can likely cause even more damage to young people’s brains.”
The key, she says, is to have alternatives. In the case of drug-free health housing, these communities may be able to provide education on healthy living and emotional management. Access to programs to develop adult life skills such as nutrition, stress management, and social skills is appealing to some students and families.
Building a community
Loyola Hall, already known as a quiet residence hall on campus, was selected to pilot a drug-abstinence program during the 2022-2023 academic year.
“The people who lived there wanted quieter spaces and were concerned about the drinking culture, with parties in neighboring rooms and people coming back from a night out making loud music and noise. I didn’t want to be a part of it,” Robinson said. .
The success of Loyola Living Communities led to the creation of Ciampi Hall, a designated Wellbeing Living Learning Community in 2023.
