Swallow Robin announced Penthouse, the fourth floor on Samuel Morris Hall, as their new brother floor, coining the name “Birdhouse” as their nickname.
The small dorm of 73 girls is excited to hang with the men across the street. They’re fun, easy to talk to and love the Lord, Ellie Kamphausen, junior art therapy major who works as a personnel assistant (PA) on the third floor of Robin, said.
Kamphausen said the dorm isn’t looking for an intense Bro-Sis life or requiring too much commitment from students. Rather, she hopes the group dynamic will widen her girls’ community circles and provide casual events without draining their social battery.
“Hopefully they can just be friends that we have on campus,” she said. “People that you can recognize and sit with and talk to, that is the goal and the hope.”
The Bro-Sis relationship removes the intimidation factor many experience when talking to the opposite gender and creates connections that may feel harder to establish alone. It also gives people confidence to explore campus during open hours, Kamphausen said.
The PA said leaving the Brotherhood for Penthouse wasn’t a decision made out of enmity or dislike for the dorm’s old brother floor. Rather, it was a decision she hoped would enable the girls to meet even more people around campus.
Josiah King, junior human physiology and preventative medicine major working as PA on Penthouse, agreed with Kamphausen. He looks forward to the group’s fun dynamic and can’t wait to participate in Upland events and Bro-Sis pancake nights.
King reached out to the Robin PAs last year, asking if they would consider Penthouse as their brother floor. He said the process has been easy.
The Penthouse-Robin dynamic seems to be off to a good start, Annabele Spiker, hall director for Swallow Robin, said.
“The girls in Robin really enjoy being around the Penthouse boys,” she said. “The PAs are super kind.”
Spiker echoed Kamphausen’s approach to Bro-Sis events. While creative events and lively programming are important, so are casual Bro-Sis hangouts. This can include everyday events, like dinner or simply sitting together and hanging out, Spiker said.
Kamphausen, King and Spiker expressed excitement for Birdhouse 2025.
