One of the last events of orientation is the LLC Kickoff for members of Elon’s Living-Learning Communities, hosted in McKinnon Hall. During the kickoff all 27 of Elon’s LLCs gathered to engage with each other, play trivia, learn about upcoming events and engage in breakout groups.
McKinnon Hall was filled with new and returning students along with LLC faculty advisors and Resident Assistants. The event was led by Associate Director of Residence Life for Residential Education and Community Development Sarah Ann Chapman, who supervised trivia about Elon University and shared introductions to the different LLCs.
In addition to Chapman, Director of Academic-Residential Partnerships and assistant professor of education Jennifer Stephens also spoke during the kickoff. Stephens reminded students to take advantage of the opportunities that come with living in an LLC, such as attending events with guest speakers, volunteer opportunities and courses they can take with their cohort. Stephens also advised students to show up, step up and lift each other up.
“This allows us to share that message with them about what the living-learning communities are,” Stephens said in an interview with Elon News Network. “But, as you saw, kind of a pep rally, get them excited for what’s ahead and give them time to get oriented to their individual LLC.”
According to Stephens, who began overseeing Elon’s LLCs three years ago, the number of students living in an LLC has grown exponentially throughout her time as director, which led to the introduction of new LLCs focused on serving students of different majors, programs and identities.
Stephens said students, faculty and staff are able to recommend and propose new LLCs annually.
The LLC Kickoff is one of the only times during the year when all the LLCs are together at one event. Stephens said different LLCs may collaborate on different programs or initiatives, but besides the kickoff, the end-of-year LLC awards is one of the only times members from every cohort are together.
Stephens said LLCs provide students with the ability to meet others with similar interests and to find a group of people they can relate to. This was one of the factors for why freshman Emma Luckman chose to be part of the Communications LLC.
“The community at Elon played a huge part in me coming here,” Luckman said. “The learning living community was kind of an addition to that, in knowing that I was obviously going to have a community and a strong family.”
Freshmen Phoebe Lewis and Katina Gakis joined the Service Learning LLC because of volunteer experiences they had during high school. They said they both believe volunteering in college will lead them to experience new things and contribute to their community.
“I thought that would be a nice way that would bring me into the community and help out with my new one,” Gakis said.
The Service Learning LLC will be taking part in multiple events and off-campus retreats, such as visiting the Burlington Animal Services and the Special Olympics.
Stephens said the kickoff event helps students understand the role they play within Elon and how they can benefit and add to the community. She also said being part of an LLC can help bring people together through common interests.
“It’s just a natural, organic, authentic way to find people that share similar interests as you,” Stephens said. “You know you have that thing in common with those students who are on your floor, and so that makes it easier for them to also connect across difference, because they know there is that common thread that pulls them all together.”