By Kyra Dewan
Introduction
Located in the heart of Midtown East, is a student residence building, FOUND Study. FOUND study is a residence building that combines a vast variety of colleges from Baruch College to the Joffrey School of Ballet. The residence building allows students from several colleges around the city to connect and thrive during their college years. FOUND study is a unique way to live during your college years as it connects home, community, and a high standard of dorming.
In my linguistic landscape study, I analyze the landscape within FOUND Study and how they use signs and content to create a sense of belonging among its residents. My main findings through my analysis highlights how FOUND fosters an atmosphere of safety, community, and home. Through visual and textual elements FOUND highlights the security of the environment to enable comfort for students and their families. In addition they highlight several community-building initiatives, to encourage a sense of belonging among the residents. Overall, the visual and textual elements within FOUND Study enables residents and their families to have a perfect stay while bringing new students in every semester.
Map showing the location of FOUND Study in Midtown East, New York City. Google. (n.d.). Retrieved October 24, 2024, from Apartments.com
Community Protocols
While exploring the linguistic landscape of my dorm building one key theme is how FOUND enforces community protocols. Throughout the main entrance and outside my building there are several signs that highlight the regulations and protocols of the residential building. These signs and flyers communicate essential rules, such as “Emergency Exit Only” and “No Alcohol Allowed,” these regulations create an environment where residents feel safe.
However, there is a possibility that this heavy emphasis on rules may create an environment where students feel overly controlled. Some students may feel that the residence building is taking away their anticipated new freedom. Students may feel FOUND will take away their “independent and fun college lifestyle” that they expected from living on their own. This could hinder students perception living in FOUND Study, as they see it as an overly managed environment and this leaves little room for their freedom. While some of these guidelines may seem tedious to some students, such as the protocols about whether drinking and smoking are allowed, the guidelines are not just about restrictions. They are designed to reassure residents and their families that their safety is a top priority at the dorm. As the buildings have proper protocols, it allows all residents to feel comfortable during their stay. This helps them focus on their studies and social life.
Community
The sense of community at FOUND Study is a key factor throughout this linguistic landscape study. The sense of community that FOUND fosters is reflected in the engaging flyers displayed throughout the building. FOUND study has created events such as “Run Club” and “Movie Night on the Rooftop” and showcases them using flyers. The flyers incorporate colors such as yellows and greens to grab the attention of the student and convey a message of high energy fun activities; perfect for college students.The flyers also utilize clean, large, and bold texts when showcasing the events names to help grab the attention of students on the go. Specifically the texts are clean, sans-serif fonts that appeal to college students who need clarity in their hectic lives. The designs on the flyers are curated perfectly to grab the attention of students who are used to hectic and content filled days. Additionally, the design on the flyers are a crucial aspect of building community at FOUND Study. These visually appealing designs convey a sense of excitement and inclusivity, encouraging residents to participate (Baker, 2020). FOUND events like run club and rooftop movie nights are key connecting tools, allowing students from all schools and backgrounds to create friendships. It also allows students to feel a sense of belonging at a new “home”. According to a research study social interactions within residential settings can significantly enhance students’ overall college experience, promoting both academic success and personal well-being (Tinto, 1993). The flyers are also posted in many places around the buildings, such as in the lobby, library, lounge areas, elevators ensuring that information about events reaches a wide audience. Through these community focused events and their advertisement, FOUND highlights the notion that dorming here is not just a place to just sleep, rather a place to feel at home, supported, and connected.
These flyers, digital and physical, use a single language, catering to the majority audience. Leaving these flyers (that only use English) and their events inaccessible to the minority (non-English) speakers. Although it is unfortunate for the minority, a single language used on the flyers shows and promotes unity through the building. It also simplifies communication regarding events and community activities. These events and the way they are conveyed help the residents of FOUND study create a shared experience. It allows students to create a home away from home.
Celebration
Celebration is another crucial aspect of life at FOUND Study, highlighted through seasonal festivities and the recognition of Resident Assistants (RAs). The dorm celebrates every new season and holiday with events such as spooky door-decorating contest for Halloween and gatherings to admire the beauty of fall in nearby parks. Activities like these ensure students feel a sense of comfort away from home. In addition, the photos celebrating the RAs with the slogan “Your Friendly Support Team” serve to emphasize that they are approachable figures within the community (Johnson, 2018). Through FOUND’s approach of honoring the holidays, seasons, and staff they enhance the liveliness and sense of home at the dorms. This approach creates a positive atmosphere that enhances the comfort students feel when being so far away from their home and family.
The community initiatives that FOUND Study introduces are focused on connecting with others in the building, in order to create a home like feeling. The celebrations FOUND emphasizes are also used to create a homelike feeling rather they focus on marking significant moments and creating experiences that students can look forward to. By celebrating holidays and seasons, recognizing staff, FOUND becomes a festive place where students can create new traditions away from home. We can see how celebrations and community building initiatives both serve to create a place where students feel at home, but they both have specific roles in making the dorm feel like a true home away from home.
Conclusion
Overall, the events, flyers, and visuals utilized in FOUND Study highlight an environment that feels like home. Through community protocols and regulations, celebrations, and community building events, FOUND fosters a sense of community that makes living in the dorms feel like home, even when away from home. Through strategically designed flyers that showcase and promote these events residents are encouraged to build lasting connections with others of different schools, grades, and backgrounds. Additionally, the dorm’s commitment to celebrating seasons and recognizing the contributions of RAs creates an atmosphere where students feel comfortable and overall enhance their living experience. Through their protocols, community events, and specific approach FOUND successfully accomplishes creating a community where students feel that they can thrive during their college years
References
Baker, C. (2020). Creating engaging visuals for student events. Journal of College Student Engagement, 15(2), 45–58.
Google. (n.d.). Map showing the location of FOUND Study in Midtown East, New York City. Apartments.com. Retrieved October 24, 2024, from Apartments.com
Johnson, L. (2018). The role of resident assistants in building community in college dorms. College Housing Journal, 12(3), 67–75.
Tinto, V. (1993). Leaving college: Rethinking the causes and cures of student attrition. University of Chicago Press.