The College of the Arts’ Office of Student Services welcomed both new and returning students this fall to the college’s Arts Interdisciplinary Living Community (AILC), based  in Freeman Hall, now in its second year.  The “Arts Floor” (as it is commonly called) is a special interest living community comprised of 80 students majoring in art & design, music, theatre, dance, broadcasting and communication studies, with numbers doubled in size since last year.  The meeting kick-off, held September 16^th, allowed residents to become acquainted, meet staff from the college’s Student Services, Career Services and Arts & Cultural Programming, and learn about opportunities to initiate and participate in arts activities and collaborations during the year. 

Veteran AILC residents, now in their second year in the community, shared with their peers and staff several projects that took place during the AILC’s inaugural year. Activities included a talent show, t-shirt contest, and an intramural water volleyball team.  About 50 people attended the AILC talent show last year, which featured close to 20 singing and dance performances, monologues and dialogues from plays and movies, and instrumentals.  The students also organized their own “arts council”, initiated to give structure to the community, plan events, and provide ‘arts management’ experience for the students. 

During the meeting, residents were encouraged to bring new ideas to the community and to initiate or organize special activities. Several projects and field trips are already in the works, including mural painting in the hallways and a field trip to watch fellow students who are appearing in the Broadway production of “Bye Bye Birdie.”

“The Arts Floor is extremely vibrant,” says Jonathan Martínez, Freeman/Russ Halls Community Director.  “The students are always looking for ways to become involved and we look forward to putting more of their great ideas to work.”  Jonathan works hand and hand with two Community Assistants, who are also majors in the College of the Arts, as well as the Arts Council, now in its second year.

As part of the experience, AILC residents have access to a lounge and art studio facility equipped with work tables, easils and display walls -- spaces in which students may work and rehearse 'at home' when they are not otherwise in their Department studios or practice rooms. (There are also pianos in the building.)  More information regarding the  AILC, including how to become involved, can be found on the Arts Interdisciplinary Living Community Web page.