SEAHO Report - Winter 2023 - 30

create an atmosphere of familiarity that can ease the
transition into a new space.
By arranging the space and adding personal items,
Elvira was able to claim her space. Lawless expresses
a similar idea by discussing the socio-physical factors
in creating a " home " in residence halls (2012).
Students claim spaces for various uses, oftentimes
deviating from the original usage of the room. For
example, study lounges, when used for studying,
are used for large group studies. Outside of that,
study lounges are used for socializing. Students
primarily study in their rooms or libraries, if available.
Claiming a space like this creates a divide between
work and " home, " providing students with a sense
of belonging. Additionally, it allows them to create
relationships with others in the hall or the building,
fostering a sense of community that aids in the
creation of a " home away from home " environment.
This concept can be applied to houses and
apartments since the divide is more apparent in these
contexts due to defined areas such as bedrooms and
living rooms.
A common practice in university housing is giving
students the option to live in residence halls or
singular halls that have a common interest or
demographic. These range from living with other
LGBTQ+ students to students that are pre-med,
and more. Watanabe details how the University of
California at Los Angeles (UCLA) created a space
for students whose parents did not attend college
(2017). By living with other students that were firstgeneration
college students, a community was
formed to support those who were struggling to fit
in among the wealthy students that also attended
UCLA. Students who opt into living in residence halls
like these often have a better college experience
because they do not have to adapt their identities to
fit in with the broader campus population. Students
can live authentically and gain worldly knowledge
from others that have diverse backgrounds outside of
their common interests.
However, there is a downfall to exclusively staying
within the familiar. Yu, et al. discuss the correlation
between spatial familiarity and urban engagement,
stating that students who stay in areas they frequent,
30
will not explore new places (2018). This means that
these students have ritualized their engagement
with the city and do not deviate from the routine
unless necessary. Their familiarity range may broaden
as they are exposed to new places when they
have access to transportation or are involved in
engagement opportunities off-campus. Those living
off-campus already have a sense of independence as
well as the confidence to explore new areas.
The sense of exploration is not directly correlated to
off-campus exploration but is based on an individual's
needs. College campuses often have stores or
have stores within walking distance that provide
students with supplies like groceries or toiletries, as
well as restaurants and retail stores for students to
socialize in as they shop. As Hayden states, urban
landscapes like those of college campuses need
" to be grounded in both aesthetics of experiencing
places with all five senses " (2015). By experiencing
campus and the areas around it as Hayden suggests,
students can broaden their sense of home to the
whole community instead of just their temporary
housing. Proximity to spaces with social relations
also influences where students choose to live. Some
students would like to live within walking distance
so they can conveniently shop, while others choose
to live elsewhere since it fits their needs and desires
better. Both students have access to the same spaces
but their agency to access them is different.
Since students typically cycle through college
campuses every year, they leave behind evidence
that memorializes their time. For some, it exists in
spaces with social relations by being a memory to
staff members. For others, their memorialization will
be found in the residential history. Temporary living
spaces have residents that will not return after the
lease expires and they move out. In most situations,
residents have to remove all personal belongings so
that the next resident has a clean slate to establish
themselves in the space. " When A Door is Not
(Just) A Door " discusses how an examination of a
doorframe reveals that previous tenants had left two
mezuzot on the doorframe (2019). The presence of
one mezuzah would not have violated the guidelines,
but two mezuzot are a violation. The article explains
that regardless of the reason behind putting up
SEAHO Report - Winter 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of SEAHO Report - Winter 2023
