Being plastic is what it’s all about.
At a college that prides itself on students who are godly and inviting, the task of Community Life Team (CLT) members is to be as “plastic” as possible.
“It is a new thing they started this year,” said Erin Kropf, a CLT member, referring to the new pet program of Dean of Students Brenda Roth. “Our motto is ‘plastic people,’ which normally has a bad connotation, but for us it is about being flexible and going where we are needed.”
The program was developed as a way of providing a better on-campus experience for all the dorm residents.
“Having upperclassmen on campus helps younger students to more thoroughly understand who we are as a college community,” said Nancy Hedberg the Vice President for Student Life,“to experience the joy of pursuing a Christ-like lifestyle, and gain the ability to develop relationships that are healthy and lasting.”
Hedberg said the program will enable Student Life to support target groups of underclassmen, such as sophomores, specific majors, and transfer students.
“Students on the Community Life Team are not assigned to a specific hall, but will reach out to the broader resident population,” said Hedberg. “The responsibilities of individual team members will vary according to their specific gifts and interests, as well as to identified needs within residence halls.”
The program, which was “enthusiastically approved by the President’s Cabinet,” according to Hedberg, provides additional leadership opportunities to students who perhaps would not be eligible for RA positions.
“Creating a Community Life Team on campus benefits everyone,” Hedberg said.
And with the influx in freshmen, the CLTs could not have come at a better time.
During orientation, they helped coordinate move-in and offered bright and welcoming smiles to the nervous new students.
One CLT, Nathan Stevens, said that during orientation he did “everything from show people around to moving their stuff in and out.”
“I’ve really enjoyed being a CLT,” said junior Michael “Parge” Pargeter, “the team is awesome, we’ve been gelling together well and this will result in students having an easier time on and off campus.”