SLUsh 2014 brings scores of students

The snow and ice were an appropriate setting for many students who found new homes for next semester in this year’s Small Living Unit (SLU) recruitment.

SLUsh is the week-long period where the campus’s SLUs recruit residents. This year, they had a much larger number of applicants than usual, according to house moderators.

Applicants were informed of each SLU’s decision on Feb. 4 and have until the 10th to decide.

The process began with an all-SLU event Jan. 27 in Stuyvesant Hall to introduce interested student to each of the seven houses on campus.

Each SLU has a central theme. Houses include the Modern Foreign Language House (MFL), Citizens of the World House (COW), House of Thought (HoT), Interfaith House (IF), House of Peace and Justice (P&J), Tree House, and Women’s House (WoHo).

Freshman McKenna Brewer, applied to both COW and WoHo, and thought the process was fairly straightforward.

“I liked the smaller events at each of the houses I went to as well,” she said.

Brewer found out on Tuesday that she was accepted as a new member of WoHo.

Senior Alex D’Amore-Braver, moderator of House of Thought, said his house had five spots to fill and held 18 interviews.

He said this made the process very time-consuming, as they spent ten and a half hours holding interviews and deliberating.

While this may have led to some students being written off early, D’Amore-Braver said they “have a fantastic roster for next year.”

Senior Ashley Madera, moderator of Citizens of the World House, said they also have five full-year spots, as well as two for fall semester.

When searching for potential members, they consider three major aspects: passion, individuality and willingness to make COW their home.

“We want applicants who want to make COW their second home and not just a bed to sleep in,” she said.

Madera said they received 25 applications, which made the process a lot longer than usual.

“We really had to pick those individuals who stood out from the rest in all these areas rather than just one or two,” she said.

Sophomore Margot Reed, a resident of P&J, said her house accepted seven new members  for next semester out of 21 applicants.

“I think one of the biggest challenges that created was trying to pick people that would please everybody already in the house,” she said.

Reed said it finding a consensus among the 17 current members on one person is difficult, and even more so when there are eight spots.

Like House of Thought and Citizens of the World House, the Modern Foreign Language House also has five spots open.

Senior Kate Johnson, MFL moderator, said they look for dedication to the house’s mission, an open mind and a personality that matches well with current members.

“We are looking for students who are studying languages or native speakers of non-English languages who have a strong interest in promoting intercultural understanding,” she said.

To evaluate interested students, each SLU held a two-hour long open house, providing applicants with interview sign-ups for Feb. 1 and 2.

The week’s events concluded on Jan. 31, with a screening of “Rocky Horror Picture Show” by the House of Thought, other SLU residents and non-members.