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 First
Year Students Rock!!!!
Christensen Hall loves first year students. Why? Because it houses
all first year students!!! We believe in creating an environment
that is supportive and safe for first year students transitioning
into their first year of college. Everyone is in the same boat in
Christensen, going through similar struggles, asking similar questions
and we are here to help!!! Many of the students are
taking the same classes as well. Living here gives students the
convenience of forming study groups and moments of shared dialogue
on those tough topics.
 Our
Community Standards.. One word can describe the community
standards in Christensen.. RESPECT !
We HONOR community and CELEBRATE
differences. It's a community that challenges
acts of prejudice and works hard to make change. Discrimination
and oppression, whether it is in actions, language, pictures and
flyers drawn or posted are not tolerated. It is our goal to
make Christensen a welcoming, friendly, safe environment for all
races, ethnicities, cultures,  sexual
orientations, genders, abilities and religions.
Located in area 3, Christensen Hall
is a very high energy community. Housing only all first year students,
the activity in this building never ends. 450 students come to Christensen
ready to meet new people, hang out late into the night, and gain
independence! Students love the idea of living next to other students
in the “same boat” as them. It is very safe and gives
each student personal space to figure out what college is all about.
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Logistics
of the First Year Integration "FYI"Program
Given
the 450 students living in Christensen Hall, we've geared our
programming and staff efforts to proactively address common
first year student transition issues. The services are
available to all Christensen students.
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Christensen Hall has a desk in the B Tower lobby which is staffed seven days/week
from 7:00pm - 10:00 pm. At the desk,
students can get everything from help with
directions, to information about activities and events happening
around campus, to the ability to
purchase food and supplies.
Christensen
Staff
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First Year Programming Curriculum
 The
Christensen Staff takes great pride in developing educational
and social activities geared toward the first year experience.
Students in Christensen can plan on theme weeks to aid in
their transition. Topics include the following: Roommate
communication, Sharpp/Got Consent, Involvement/Leadership,
Alcohol Awareness, Academic Strategies and Goal Setting,
Getting to Know Professors, Diversity, Advising/Registration,
Assessment/Feedback, Finals Preparation, Winter Celebrations,
Identity, Power/Oppression, Careers/Majors, Healthy Habits,
Housing/Room Selection, Student Activism, Making the Most
of Your Summer, and Reflecting on your First Year.
Academics
 The best part of living in Christensen is that you're bound to meet lots of people with the same major as you, even if you're undeclared. With 450+ residents, we have a wide variety of UNH colleges and majors represented. You will most likely be in a number of classes with other residents from Christensen and you can easily form study groups throughout the year. Christensen also has a large study lounge on the first floor with plenty of seating, a fireplace, and a separate room for groups. With staff programming that focuses on everything from academic strategies to advising and registration, you will have plenty of support in achieving your goals during your first year at UNH. In fact, one of the most popular programs that host in Christensen is our “board breaking” program in which students learn how to break a board with their bare hand! The breaking of the boards symbolizes an obstacle that a student must “break through” in order to reach their goals or dreams.
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Christensen Community
Service Partnership
 Christensen Hall has a community partnership with the UNH CSDC (Child Study and Development Center). The CSDC is a laboratory school affiliated with the Department of Family Studies at UNH. A laboratory school is one with both an early care and education mission and an academic mission. Children attending the center, and the UNH students working at the center, benefit from the highly trained teaching staff and from the family studies faculty. The center is supported by its tuition revenues and by University funds.
 This spring we were happy to implement our new “Little Buddies” program in which 15 Christensen residents were each paired with a student from the CSDC kindergarten class. The purpose of the “Little Buddies” program is to allow the Christensen residents the opportunity to help their little buddies explore the community in which they live.
The kindergarten class came over to Christensen in early February for our kick-off lunch with the Christensen residents. The Christensen residents then played a game of memory with the students (in which students had to match cards with pictures of what they might find in a college students room). After the memory game, Christensen residents gave their kindergarten friends a tour of one of the floors in Christensen.
The little buddies loved having the opportunity to see the bathrooms, but really enjoyed seeing their big buddies rooms. Many of the little buddies seemed to think that loft beds were part of an indoor playground as they enjoyed having the chance to crawl up onto a loft to see what it was like. The kindergarten students had a lot of questions to ask about what it is like to be a college student. One of the best parts of the day was when one of the little buddies said “so...living here (in Christensen) is like living with a really big family.” The college students giggled at this statement, but also agreed with her – living in Christensen IS like living with a really big family!
If you would like to learn more about the CSDC, please visit http://csdc.unh.edu/About/ |
Christensen
Staff
The staff members in the building are trained on working and
interacting with First Year students. A variety of programs are
facilitated on the floors as well as in our common area lounges.
A lot of educational and self-awareness programs happen, but we
love to socialize and do fun activities as well!
 It
is not uncommon for students in the first week to ask their RA
how to do laundry or talk about feelings of home sickness. Christensen
is the perfect space to ask those questions and explore those
feelings!!!!! Believe it or not, every student goes through some
sort of transition period. The community really allows for a smooth
transition from living at home and high school.
Philbrook
Philbrook, the dining hall in area 3 gives students a fun, casual
place to hang out with students. It really adds to the feeling
of family and home that students find living in Christensen. Everyone
knows each other and find living in other parts of campus easier
once they lived in Christensen their first year.
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Christensen Hall Traditions...
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Community Service
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Trip to Salem
- Whitewater Rafting Trip
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Popular Socials and Programs...
 Safe
Sex
Time Management
Casino Night
Road Trips
Hypnotist
Brick Painting
Academic Goals/Board Breaking
Beer Goggles |
Advice from current residents...
 "Get
involved. There are so many opportunities to get involved at UNH.
Take advantage of this because the programs you participate in will
influence your growth both socially and as a student."
"Moving in can get kinda overwhelming, but don't worry because
everything will settle out soon enough. Christensen is a great place
to live and a great place to meet people as long as you do a few
simple things. Keep your doors propped open. That way you can see
and meet people walking by, and get to know your floor a little
better. Also, be friendly from the start. Everyone is probably as
scared as you are, so just say hi as people move in or pass by you
in the hallway. Participating in the floor socials is another great
way to break the ice. As for studies, don't ignore the reading the
professors  assign,
because they can build up quickly, and 50page chapters are NOT fun
to catch up on! But despite the work, remember to have fun. School
isnt meant to bring you down socially. So have a great year, you're
going to love it!"
"A couple things I realized while living at
Christensen is that everyone is in the same boat. Everyone is starting
from a clean slate. At the beginning of school everyone is shy,
and wants to introduce themselves so just take the incentive and
do it yourself."
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Go to class! (Sit in the front, too.. you will be
noticed and pay attention more).
-
 Get
involved (It is a good way to meet people and have fun!)
-communicate with your roommate (It makes living together A
LOT easier!!)
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Don't go home for the first six weeks (Once you get
past that stretch it becomes a lot easier to be away from home.
The first six weeks are a good bonding time and if you don't
know anyone it is a good way to get to know them)
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Keep your door open (it makes you seem more approachable
and friendly!)
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Spend some time with your RA (He or she will be a
great resource and a wonderful friend if you let him/her)
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Make a schedule and try to stick to it. It is very easy to
drop that homework to go to the mall, or wherever. You can have
fun but get your work done first!!!
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HAVE FUN!
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More information about Christensen:
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2007-2008
Christensen Staff
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