Stouffer Hall: 3702 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6026 Mayer Hall: 3817 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6101 House Office: 215.573.8473 • Hours: Mon-Fri 9AM-9PM • Sat 6PM-10PM • Sun 5PM-9PM http://stouffer.house.upenn.edu • stouffer@collegehouses.upenn.edu |
Stouffer Hall will house only first year students during Quad renovations.
"Nothing comes closer to home"
What is Stouffer College House? Stouffer is waking up one fall morning and heading off to the shower. On your way to the bathroom you check in with Dylan to find out about the freshmen study session tomorrow.
One shower later, you’re back at your room and you see that TJ wrote a message on your dry erase board. TJ’s your new friend and the only person you’ve ever met who has the exact same Netflix queue you do, though you’ve had plenty of Red Sox vs. Yankees arguments and debates about whether David Tennant or Matt Smith was the best Doctor.
You met TJ on Stouffer Outdoors just before school started. You were in a raft together as you zipped down the Brandywine River. You must have paddled into 3 other canoes, and you even drenched the House Director. Not a bad way to start your college career.
You’re thinking you’ll try to get a suite together in Mayer next year – funny how Stouffer College House is actually two buildings. The idea of your own bathroom, kitchen, and common room is appealing, especially if TJ’s chili is as good as TJ claims. But you would miss the vibe in this weird maze that is Stouffer-Stouff… as everyone calls it.
Once you’re dressed, you check your email. As always, it’s a ton of messages from Stouffer- Announce, the House listserv that any resident can post to. Here are the highlights:
From: an RA from Mayer, a PhD student in robotics
To: Stouffer-Announce
Subject: Game of Horse on the rooftop patio @ 1pm
Don't forget! Come to the Stouffer Patio at 1pm today with a hunger for wins and an eye on the prize. There may be Stouffer swag from years’ past for all participants. But make sure you keep your head in the game and watch out for the rebounds!
From: a senior in Mayer who also plays saxophone
with the Glee Club
To: Stouffer-Announce
Subject: The Steering Mission Passes!Hello Stouffer College House!
I am proud to announce that the new Steering Mission has passed. Thank you to everyone who voted, and a special thanks to the Steering representatives who went out of their way to get the votes that we needed.
Good news. As far as you can tell, the new Mission looks good. And you love Steering. You go every other week to listen to the ideas the other residents have for trips, projects, and other spending proposals. You have a pretty good idea you think you’ll pitch next week. Stouffer is the only College House that allows residents that much say in how money is spent and you really like that.
Stoufferites chalking the patio. Others laying in our hammocks. The rest waving to each other as they head to and from class.
Oh, look, more email.
From: a senior on the Special Events Committee
To: Stouffer-Announce
Subject: Thanksgiving Dinner!Hello everyone,
The annual Stouffer Thanksgiving dinner is coming up, and we would like your help! Please fill out the attached form if you are available to help cook. Everything will need to be cooked by 3 pm on Sunday, November 23rd, so it would be awesome if as many people signed up as possible.
In addition, if you have recipes you would like to share with us, please add them to the shared document I’m linking to here, along with what you need to make it. We will buy the supplies that you need, but if you add a recipe, please commit to cooking it! Recipes are due by 5PM on the 16th.
Oh, yeah, gotta get on that. Your family makes amazing cranberry chutney you’re eager to share with everyone. How awesome is this that so many residents come together to cook a Thanksgiving Dinner for all of Stouffer?
You go see if TJ, Lin, and Carmen are ready for brunch at 1920 Commons. You won’t fill up too much, though. There’s a cookout on Stouffer Patio this afternoon. You love that patio, from the hammocks to the basketball hoops to those great Adirondack chairs.
After that, maybe you’ll just hang out in the lounge. Your upperclass Stouffer mentor will play the piano and two Stoufferites are planning a late night Settlers of Catan session.
Huh, you think, this is exactly what you were hoping college would be like. House life is just one part of the overall experience, but it’s fun, comfortable, friendly. Stouffer’s motto is "Nihil Domo Similius" — "Nothing comes closer to home." Sure, they borrowed that from the frozen food company, but still, it sounds about right. This isn't just your House. This is your Home.
You live in a House where everybody’s looking out for each other; where upperclassmen, grad students, and faculty are there to help you figure out Penn and how to get the most out of it; where your voice is valued. It’s a place where tradition is important, but anyone can make a mark. It’s a tight-knit community that always has room for one more. It’s a place where you can ask for the simple things, or the biggest favor and someone will be there to help. It’s a place to be you, and to find out just what that means.
It’s Stouffer.