You can find them everywhere. At the entrance to the girls’ lounge, leaving the bathroom, or on the boys’ dorm billboard.
The new and easily accessible QR codes posted around the Upper Campus are aimed at making a positive impact on the school’s residential community, with the hopes of giving the dormers a bigger voice.
While only a few students have used the new codes, they have served their purpose in making the dorms a better place to live. Biology teacher Leland Fulton, the new head of residential life, is eager to learn more about his students and bring a positive change to the dorms.
“I want to know what you guys think and what your interests are,” Mr Fulton said. “And how you want to improve the dorms and what we can do to make this a better place for people living here.”
One student, senior Annie Heinemann has used the QR codes to address the amount of laps given to the dormers. According to some of the girls in the girls’ dorm, it has gotten a lot better recently. The QR code format is designed to be easy and simple to fill out.
“It was very accessible,” Annie said. “It feels nice to know that they want to hear our opinions and that they are working harder to make this year better than the last.”
As soon as you click the QR code, students encounter a series of questions from evening activities to furniture. It asks what the resident staff can do better and if you’d join a group to talk about the dorms.
Senior Dylan West has also used the QR codes to improve the boys’ dorms and get more lawn games and furniture. His prayers have been answered with the arrival of new games for the boys to enjoy. Dylan thinks very highly of the staff and appreciates all their hard work.
“The change in the staff compared from last year to this year is extremely significant and does not go unnoticed,” Dylan said. “The vibrancy and energy of the staff is top tier and something that cannot be missed.”
When both dorm seniors were asked about the changes in the dorms compared to the dorm last year, they both agreed on one thing: this year has been a lot better than the previous year.
The new staff has brought a lot of new fun activities for the dormers to enjoy on the weekend. No more going to The Collection for the 100th time, now there are Asian market trips, haunted houses, and concerts.
Not only have the weekends been more fun but problems have been addressed and solved thanks to the QR codes. Although not many people have used them, the hope is that more and more people will, and the dorms will be the best they can be.
“What I hope to bring is just kind of a presence and energy and a level of enthusiasm for this residential community that we have and hope to just make it a place that people are excited to be and make it more enriching in whatever way that is,” Mr. Fulton said. “I’m hoping that everybody at the end of the year feels like this is their family and feels like they really belong here and are excited to be here.”