One of the most important things the Minerva System attempts to accomplish is outreach to students and faculty. With this being such a major focus, Green House has done its part in ensuring incoming students feel welcome at their Minerva. One of the events that got freshman into Green House was the weekly student lunches in the fall. The council was encouraged to attend the lunch (and many of them did) to socialize with the incoming students. This was done to “break the ice” and to get them more involved with the house. Many of the students that were approached began utilizing Green House as a third space and attended our events. Within two weeks, there were several freshmen that began attending the Green House Council meetings and in the spring several of those students were elected to Green House Council positions—including Green House Council Chair. Furthermore, a whitewater rafting trip for 40 incoming freshmen is being planned for the second weekend in the fall to reach out to students and make them feel welcome in the campus community. This should stir interest within the class to get them involved with the Minerva System.

One of the great events held weekly at Green House is Green House Jams, which Professor Hugh Jenkins heads. This is an opportunity for students and faculty to hang out and jam together while playing bluegrass style music. At the moment, the event is predominantly attended by faculty members, however there have been a number of students that were caught passing through the house that decided to stop and enjoy the music.

Additionally, Green House believes in providing events that are not only entertaining, but that are also culturally enriching. One such opportunity came from an event that was such a huge success in the fall that it was repeated in the spring—Arabian Nights. It featured hookah smoking combined with ethnic Afghani food, though the use of tobacco products at this event is controversial. In many Eastern countries, people gather around the hookahs to enjoy a great conversation. Green House was successful in replicating this, as many of the students enjoyed each other’s company long after the food had disappeared. In fact, several students were participating in a philosophical debate. Another such opportunity came from an event that was sponsored by Green House and was run by the AUM Hindu Student Association. During the winter term, the event was hosted in the great room in observance of a Hindu holiday. Members of both Green House and AUM participated in the festivities that included a discussion of the significance of the holiday and a traditional Hindu prayer. Many of the Green House members found the event to be informative and were delighted to be exposed to a different culture.

One of the traditions Green House has kept over the years is Erotica Night, which Green House feels is probably the most innovative event sponsored by any Minerva House. Every year, attendance at the event significantly increases. This year so many students attended the event that the seating spilled out from the great room into the foyer. With the hosts directing the show, there was a great amount of audience participation, which resulted in students shedding some of their normally upheld inhibitions. This resulted in a great event, in terms of attendance and student involvement, but more importantly it fostered a great atmosphere that hung over the house through the night (even after the event had ended).

Another important area for Minerva success is that of creating an enticing third space that the campus feels comfortable utilizing. Green House has worked diligently to provide the campus community with a cool place to hang out through the purchase of new furniture that provides a homier feel than some of the more sterile items already within the home. In fact, the house is currently working on restructuring the great room in order to provide a more user friendly environment. Many students already routinely study within the great room and seminar room. House provisions such as an air hockey table, pool table, and Xbox, all of which are accessible to house members, have increased the amount of kids hanging out within Green House. Hopefully, with some more redecorating, even more students will leave their dorm to hang out with their friends within the Minerva house.

Green House has come a long way in the past year in establishing itself as a successful academic, cultural, and social option for students. We believe that this stems from the council’s eagerness to generate a sense of community and also in keeping a tidy and up-to-date website that includes all upcoming events. Additionally, students have the opportunity to submit ideas for events on the website. Great communication is the key to having well attended events.

Overall, we feel that the Green House Council has worked exceptionally hard to bring a different vibe and feel to the campus community. While many house events across campus simply end up as another version of Union’s many dining halls, Green House has worked tirelessly to provide a fundamentally innovative community oriented experience in line with what the system’s originators hoped to create.