The Side Effects of Dorm Life

By: Emily Oshinskie '14

Last Sunday I got in the car with three other phenomenal ‘14s and headed back to the land of purple and gold, excited for what this new term would reveal. I can tell you it’s already off to a great start….well, besides the 8:00am classes. But that’s a minor detail in the grand scheme of things. Break was great, but I really missed being able to walk down the hall and chill with my friends. There is nothing like dorm life and the instant community of living with other people. Ah cohabitation! Before break, my CORE professor asked our class, “What does community mean to you?” I started thinking about the community in the dorms at Elmira and started making a list about the symptoms/side effects/indicators of dorm community.

Here’s a few that I have noticed in Columbia hall:

• The girls down the hall are fanning each other with towels, so their 11:30pm facials will dry.
• Spontaneous dance parties in the hallway because you and your friends are all down with your papers at 11:58pm (because it’s before midnight).
• Helping a two friends finish up their Oreos because they have already consumed 95% of them.
• Falling asleep in your friend’s bed because you’re too tired to walk three doors down.
• Skyping with a friend’s friend, boyfriend, mother, uncle, dog, etc. (I didn’t get the whole Skyping with a pet at first but apparently people do that….I try not to judge)
• Coloring books and crayons spilled all over the floor could only mean a Disney princess and Pooh Bear coloring party (regressing back to childhood reduces stress fyi).
• Establishing one person that you plan to hug every time you see them.
• A room of people shouting out random phrases that all have one word in common tends to indicate an intense game of “Family Feud” simultaneously being played on three different laptops.
• “Jersey Shore” watching parties….I don’t think I have to elaborate on that one.
• Making Rice Krispie treats with Frosted Flakes in the microwave.
• Hearing Aaron Carter’s “I Want Candy” a few doors down and deciding to go join them in reminiscing about the pre-teen years.

This is just the beginning to a never-ending list of qualities that describe dorm life. Another professor told me recently that it isn’t always the big things that you remember in life, but it’s the smaller memories. Yes, I will never forget going to my first hockey game or going to the first day of classes at EC; however, the memories that I know will stick out are the times when I go down the hall to ask my friend for some jelly to put on my PB&J and I end up having a couple hours of meaningful and inspiring conversation.