One of the most important aspects of a student’s college experience is where they live, especially during his or her first year. 

Students can do their research on each neighborhood by visiting Elon’s website and learning about them, by asking current students or by touring campus. Most incoming freshmen at Elon University must decide which neighborhood they would prefer to live in and hope they are given their preference. One factor in deciding is whether or not living in a Living and Learning Community (LLC) would be a good fit. 

Elon has several LLCs for which students must fill out a separate housing application indicating which two most capture their interest. They must also answer additional questions, such as how the theme connects to their interests and how they plan to contribute and serve as a member of the community.

A few of these are the LLCs run by advisors and resident assistants that Elon will offer for the 2018-2019 school year: Business, Catholic, Communications, Creative Arts, Examining Disparities in Access to Education, Gender and Sexuality, Honors Floor, Honors Pavilion,  International, Leaders in a Global World, LICHENS, Performing Arts, Polyglot (World Languages), Service Learning Community, STEM and Sustainable Living.

There are also a few LLCs that are student-run communities, and those include Best Life: Health and Wellness, Cultural and International Immersion, Hall for Change and Outdoor Leadership.

These LLCs are spread across Elon’s campus throughout various neighborhoods.

East Neighborhood is a new neighborhood being built, and it will adopt some LLCs from other neighborhoods. One of them will be the Service Learning Community. It will be moving from the first floor of Virginia to East Building C. 

Sophomore Jordan Williams will be the resident assistant for this LLC next year.

“I love to volunteer,” Williams said. “I am a part of Alpha Phi Omega, Elon’s co-ed service fraternity, so I have that experience in volunteering. I think this LLC is a good fit for other people who volunteer, and I want to mentor them through volunteering at Elon.”

Another LLC that will experience a shift in location is the International LLC is going to be two floors in the upcoming year due to an increase in people currently living there wanting to return to the community. 

Senior Annaliese Jaffe is the resident assistant (RA) for the International LLC, which is located in the Global Neighborhood. She has been a resident assistant since her sophomore year where she began in Danieley and then was in West Hall her junior year.

Jaffe has seen the difference an LLC makes, having experienced being a resident assistant for a normal hall and then an LLC.

“When I was the RA in West, there was no common room, and it was harder for everyone to bond,” Jaffe said. “Many of the girls went into Greek life and rushed because they wanted that sense of belonging. In the International LLC, I only had a few girls rush because many believed they already belonged to a community and did not need to rush.”

There are various reasons why people apply to live in a particular LLC, but Jaffe and other residents make it a point to be inclusive and let others know that the LLC is not specifically for international students. 

Sophomore Sara Nderitu has lived in the International LLC for the past two years although she is not an international student herself. Her interest for living on the floor was based on her major and a few other factors.

“I applied to live in the LLC because I wanted a place of different diverse experiences,” Nderitu said. “I specifically chose the International LLC because I am an international studies major. I really enjoy learning about different cultures and experiences.”

According to Jaffe, the idea of having a common connection is one that allows LLCs to be so popular.

“With LLCs, there is going to be a common connection because they each have an interesting focus,” Jaffe said. “With the International LLC, there is the interest of wanting to hear about different cultures but also wanting to bring in an academic and holistic focus.”

The ability to establish a community within an LLC is easier, according to many resident assistants for these halls. 

Sophomore Molly Lankisch returned to live in the Polyglot (World Languages) floor this year as the resident assistant after having been just a resident the previous year.

“I think the importance is really establishing a community based on what everyone is passionate about,” Lankisch said. “We are all very passionate about studying languages outside of English; having that commonality helped us establish a community around this. It helps first year students in their transition.”

Freshman Sydney Templeton chose to live on the Polyglot floor because she is minoring in French and has been studying the language.

“I chose to apply to the Polyglot or World Language floor because I love learning about different languages and culture and I am also a French minor,” Templeton said. “I knew that the floor would help my French. We have weekly language lunches at Lakeside. We all speak in the language we are studying.” 

Besides being able to establish a community, sophomore Sydney Simmons believes that LLCs help an individual on a personal level as well.

Simmons lived in the Examining Disparities in Access to Education LLC her freshman year and transitioned to being the resident assistant this year. She believes that LLCs are vital for personal growth.

“Most people that decide to live in an LLC do it because of the community aspect,” Simmons said. “They focus on one or a couple of things, so they share similar beliefs and values and that is necessary for personal growth, especially if you have something you are striving toward. I think LLCs are important for first years but also sophomores and juniors because they are steadily growing and they are making friends for life. LLCs have a lot to offer, and we do not realize the benefits of them.”


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The following are the LLCs run by advisors and resident assistants that Elon will offer for the 2018-2019 school year: 1889 House, Alcohol and Substance-free Housing for Elon Students (ASHES), Business, Catholic, Communications, Creative Arts, Elon College Fellows, Innovation, Examining Disparities in Access to Education, Gender and Sexuality, Honors Floor, Honors Pavilion, Interfaith House: Mindfully Plural, International, Leaders in a Global World, LICHENS, Performing Arts, Polyglot (World Languages), Service Learning Community, STEM and Sustainable Living.

There are also a few LLCs that are student-run communities, and those include Best Life: Health and Wellness, Cultural and International Immersion, Hall for Change and Outdoor Leadership.