Birch Hall
Where intellectual and cultural diversity meet.
The residence hall with an international flare, Birch Hall is proud to be home to the Open Borders Learning Community. OBLC is just one of many reasons why student's choose Birch to call home. It's the closest Res Hall to academic buildings, making your morning commute just a short walk to class. It's also one of the smallest Residence Halls on campus, so Birch residents develop a tight knit and supportive community. Residents are older than average, and tend to be laid back, intellectual and independent. Envision a couple of palm trees, a hammock and a person reading Hemingway.
Life in Birch Hall
Click to see the Birch Hall Photo AlbumDiscussion abounds with world views from all points on the globe represented. Resident's living on the Open Borders Learning Community floor, as well as all Birch residents, recognize the opportunity and privilege of developing life long relationships with people from around the world. Both international and local students have the opportunity to learn from their differences and celebrate their similarities in this unique living environment.
Activities and Traditions
Residents have a strong tradition of community service and involvement and Birch is very big on holidays. Some of their traditional activities include:
- Beginning and End of Year Backyard Bash
- Pumpkin Carving Contest
- Trick-or-treat
- Floor decorating Contest
- Holiday Cookie Making
- Holiday Festivities and Merry-making
- Holiday Tree Decorating
Ayleen Leonhardt "Aya"
"Take some time off and hang out with us in the Birch lobby where we can play some games and watch tv." --Aya.
- Double and single rooms
- All rooms are carpeted
- Moveable furniture
- Lounge areas located on every floor
- TV/social lounge located in main lobby area
- Game Room with pool table, ping pong and foosball open 24/7
- 60" TV in OBLC
- 177 students on five floors (two male, two female, one coed)
- 2A male at least 2nd year students
- 3A female at least 2nd year students
- 1B houses the Open Borders Learning Community
- 2B male at least 2nd year students
- 3B female at least 2nd year students
Birch Hall Residents must be 2nd year students or older or above, except in Open Borders Learning Community on 1B.
Bucky's Scoop.
First let me say that Birch Hall is not made of Birch. I've tasted it, trust me. Birch is much sweeter. Speaking of food, you've got to check out the mouth-watering aromas coming from the OBLC floor. Dropping by a floor kitchen around dinner time, you're sure to find someone cooking up gourmet dishes from around the world.