Arts takes center stage on the housing front this week, with Union's newest theme house – the Association of Ridiculously Talented Students, or ARTS – set to move into its new home in the renovated Kappa Sig residence at 201 Seward.
“Our goal is to foster all forms of creativity on campus, as well as communication between various liberal arts departments and organizations,” said Michele Curiale '07, head of ARTS House.
The group began as a quest for “good housing for several of my like-minded friends; visual artists, musicians, dancers, actors and writers, as well as a few ace hacky-sackers,” Curiale noted. “An arts-themed house had never been done before. We wanted to bridge the divide between 'wacky art kids' and 'drama nerds' and the rest of the campus, while bringing the focus back to Union's liberal arts side.”
Alex Thompson, an assistant director of Residential Life, said, “They're a bunch of involved kids who want to make a difference on campus, and we look forward to working with them.”
House members are busy exploring projects, including a newsletter dedicated to “campus-wide creative happenings,” collaborations with other Union groups and clubs, such as Kids Helping Kids, and a Halloween face painting extravaganza. They've also been decorating – creatively, of course – Strauss Lounge on the third floor of Reamer Campus Center.