Residence Life Starts Something That Matters
ORL staff members spell out J-M-U with their purple and gold TOMS. The shoes represent the ORL 2012-13 theme "Start Something That Matters."
Their jaws dropped open, they leapt to their feet and
started cheering wildly. All 284 student
and professional staff members of James Madison University's Office of
Residence Life had just been given purple and gold TOMS shoes. Moreover, Director of Residence Life
Maggie Evans reminded the crowd "that means 284 children in need of shoes
get a pair."
It was an exciting moment to cap off several months focusing
on the theme "Start Something That Matters" based on the book by the
same name written by Blake Mycoskie, founder of TOMS. Over the summer the resident advisors, hall directors and ORL
professional staff all received and read the book to prepare for staff training
and the upcoming year.
ORL based their training and theme for the year on the six
concepts Mycoskie shares in "Start Something That Matters:" find your
story, face your fears, be resourceful without resources, keep it simple, build
trust and giving is good business.
Sales of the book, TOMS sunglasses and shoes follow Mycoskie's mantra,
"One for One" and provide a child in need with a new book, pair of glasses
or shoes.
Evans sent the book to the student staff with a challenge: "Think about how his concepts translate to
our work on campus. How can you, as an RA, program advisor, hall director, writing
tutor, graduate assistant or student assistant make a difference in the lives
of the students you serve? Is there a 'One for One' concept you might embrace?
How do you plan to engage our residents in their community? What makes ORL
special and how can we connect with each and every resident and neighbor?"
Evans was inspired by the TOMS story during a visit from
Bethany Diehl Clark ('03) who leads TOMS Campus Programs. Clark, a former resident advisor and
hall director for JMU, works on the TOMS team that provides resources and inspiration
for elementary-, middle-, high-school and college campuses to share the TOMS vision
and values at their schools. "JMU is the first university where the entire
Residence Life staff has purchased Campus Classics and themed their fall
training after the 'Start Something That Matters' book," said Clark. "What an incredible way to make a
difference on campus while helping others in need."
Evans said she wants the staff to use their imagination and
creativity with the six concepts to start something that matters on their
floor, in their hall, on their staff, at JMU, in the Harrisonburg community or
in the world. "I want them to
embrace it and take it where they're inspired to take it," she said.
"My RAs responded to this theme better than I could
have hoped," said Natalie Raymond, Shorts Hall director. Raymond challenged her staff to think
of what would be meaningful to a first-year student living in their hall. "What matters is getting the
residents involved and building connections and relationships," said
Raymond. "I've seen the
positive response from the residents."
Senior Victoria Millefolie, Bell Hall director, said,
"I really want to build a community that matters, that's my 'Start
Something that Matters.' I wanted
to be a HD to be more involved in the big picture of things, so really this
TOMS theme works perfectly for this, my first year. I get to start something that matters in my own community
and I hope it spreads to the whole JMU community."
The purple and gold TOMS, the exciting reveal, the screams
and shouts of 'thank you' all made for a very exciting afternoon for the ORL
staff. Moreover, there was a sense
of excitement that each student will make an impact in fulfilling ORL's vision:
all students will want to live on
campus because there is no better place to learn and grow.
"Every year I hear our student staff say they want to
work for ORL to help others, to give back," said Evans. "This year we're going to hold
them to it. And these shoes are
going to serve as a reminder."
Raymond said her staff understands what the shoes represent. "I think they really get it. It's paying it forward, it's giving
back to people and it's making someone else's life a little bit easier every
day."
For More Information:
http://www.tomscampusprograms.com/
http://www.jmu.edu/orl/
By Paula Polglase, JMU Public Affairs
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October 9, 2012
