KC/EH students make local neighborhood fit for a Jedi

They didn't quite show up in Jedi Knight attire, but students in Kings Court/English House felt the "force" of building community this weekend. Approximately 30 residents of the college house kicked off a weekend of programming Friday with a viewing of the original Star Wars movie in the Class of 1938 Lounge of KC/EH. While students did not show up in Star Wars costumes for the movie viewing, as the college house had planned, the turnout for several other activities this weekend was more successful. Students spent Saturday in West Philadelphia beautifying the neighborhood as a continuation of the efforts of KC/EH staff to create a cohesive group of residents. A barbeque Saturday night in the house's courtyard capped off a weekend of community building. Those who attended the events regarded them as generally successful in helping to create a unified residence in KC/EH. "These events are good because you get to meet the people you are living with," said Engineering sophomore Jin Kim, who attended Friday's movie viewing. "It keeps you occupied." According to KC/EH House Manager Kendrick Li, a College senior, the weekend programming was part of a campus-wide effort to create a community atmosphere in each college house. "The new aim is to make the college houses full-service places to live," he said. "They're not just a place to sleep but a place to bring academics and activities in." KC/EH House Dean Krimo Bokreta said the events were designed under the influence of Penn PM, a college house program designed to offer students alternative, non-alcoholic activities on weekend nights. "The idea is not to send people off campus all the time," Bokreta said. "This creates alternative opportunities so people know they have different places to go on the weekend." Bokreta considered this weekend's turnout a success, even though students who were planning to attend the movie night in Star Wars costumes failed to appear for the event. Community building in KC/EH is a year-long project and goal, according to Li, who noted that organizers are scheduling bimonthly movie nights and study breaks as part of the year's plans. Li, who has lived in KC/EH for the past three years, said the college house has always had a relatively community-oriented group of residents. "Our architecture is very conducive to building a community," he said. "Different floors really get to know each other, but these events help bring together the entire house." Over 400 students call KC/EH home, with several professors also residing in the dorm.

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