Community through cereal

Students often pile into the common rooms of Preston Residential College. 

Sometimes they bring their cereal for “Cereal Killers,” one of the college’s most popular events where students share their favorite breakfast munchies to share. Other times, they bring their talent for “VOMIT.” The acronym stands for “variation on mostly interesting talent,” and by the end of an evening of poetry reading, singing and more, students often leaved hunched over in laughter. 
Events like these create a sense of community that’s often not felt on college campuses.

“I had lived off-campus, but I wanted to come back on campus where life is better,” said Tripp McDaniel, a fourth-year marine science student. “I wanted to live on campus where I knew the people are inviting and friendly. I wanted to feel close to the people I was living with and not just be neighbors.”

Preston first opened its doors in 1995 and is based off of residential colleges like in Oxford and Cambridge universities. A residential college means that there is a live-in faculty member present.

“We have a different kind of set up here at Preston,” said Christine Peters, the college’s business manager. “Here, we run things from the bottom up. Students are the ones who are in charge.”

It’s not just social involvement either. Residents are encouraged to get involved with their own residential government, and the college has its own literary magazine and movie renting system.

There are also Preston Teas that provide opportunities to interact with the Preston College president and a Great Gatsby banquet at the end of the year.

“We have a saying here and that is ‘Enter as strangers, leave as friends.’ That is really what makes Preston such a unique place,” Peters said.

With 40 faculty members that eat meals with residents at Preston’s own dining hall, students are able to make connections and have someone in their major as a mentor. These faculty are selected by the Preston College President based on students recommendations and what who they believe will be a good fit.

Preston College’s president Jim Stiver said it is important to take advantage of knowing the professors. But for Stiver, it’s been just as important to know the students.

“This is my fourth and last year here at Preston, and I will miss it very much,” Stiver said. “I believe I have learned more from the students than they have learned from me.”

Through learning in and out of the classroom, Preston faculty say they want the college to feel like home. Many say they’ve succeeded.

“I wanted to make an impact in my dorm and I knew Preston was a good fit,” said Amy Weinstein, a second-year classics student. “This is my home away from home.”