Themed Engagement Communities

New York City is home to every kind of theater you can imagine. Broadway, off Broadway, experimental theater, Shakespeare in the Park, and everything in between makes NYC arguably the greatest theatre city in the world. Join this community to meet other theater lovers, explore the diverse range of theater opportunities in NYC, and learn about all things theater related. 3N Theater Arts Company (3NTAC) community members will see theatre productions together, learn about the process of making theatre, and even get the opportunity to produce performances in the residence hall. Activities will include public play readings, field trips to see plays and musicals, a 24-hour original play festival, meetings with working artists, and original 3NTAC productions. This community is open to all students regardless of school or major, so join us and become part of the New York theatre scene!

Countless films have been set in New York City; whether it’s a classic like The Godfather or the recent Academy Award winner for Best Picture, Birdman. Talented filmmakers like John Cassavetes and NYU alumni, Martin Scorsese and Spike Lee, are known for their work filming in the NYC streets. Big Apple, Big Screen seeks to capture this cinematic spirit of NYC by building a community among first-year film lovers through unique film related outings around the city. Residents will be encouraged to actively learn about, engage, in, and discuss cinema. The Big Apple, Big Screen community will visit famous locations in film such as Sleepy Hollow and various cinemas and studios like the Little Airplane animation studio. Other activities include outings to see the newest film releases, film and documentary screenings, film seminars and workshops, and discussions about cinema and film over food.

The Black Violets floor serves to uplift Black-identifying students by creating a safe-space within residence halls in order to foster a stronger Black community at NYU.  Residents committed to celebrating the diverse facets of Black culture through curated social and cultural programming are welcome to apply. Events will include visits to museums, Black-owned restaurants, historical landmarks, and culturally related art shows. While this floor’s intent is to shine a light on the fruits of the Black diaspora, it will also explore the very real everyday implications of being Black in America with a spotlight on maintaining wellness while being socially aware. Our hope is that this will be a space of celebration and connection for students in search of representation across campus.

Climate change is the greatest challenge of our time. What can you do to contribute to a healthier, greener, more just world? As a member of this community, you will have the opportunity to learn about and discuss how innovative ideas and impassioned activism lead to sustainable solutions in New York City and beyond. Activities may include environmental stewardship opportunities, guest speakers, plant-forward community dinners, and more. At NYU, there are many ways to learn more about and get involved in supporting sustainability on campus and in NYC; this is just the start. Be part of this community to consider the various ways that you can meet like-minded individuals, and work together to step up, speak up, and act up to build a sustainable future.

Ever wonder what the Eagles meant by in a “New York Minute” or why the Beastie Boys crooned “No Sleep ‘till Brooklyn?” From rock to classical, New York City is the center for emerging musical talent. Come and learn about musical movements, examine emerging trends, and share your appreciation of music with others. F.A.M.E. will explore music through concerts and music events around NYC, documentary screenings, and active discussion and collaboration. Whether it’s a classical concert from the NY Philharmonic or seeing The Weekend at the Barclay's Center in Brooklyn, this community has a place for every kind of music lover. Emphasis will be placed not only on external sources of musical influence, but also on student expression through opportunities like playlist making, open mic nights, and songwriting seminars. No formal musical training is necessary to participate in this community, but residents should have an active interest in musical expression and appreciation.

The First Generation Explorations community is designed to support students who identify as first generation - meaning you are the first in your family to attend college - and create a supportive environment to maximize your success during your first year.  As a part of this community you will get the unique opportunity to connect with essential resources on campus including academic advising, career development, financial planning, and leadership development.  Additionally, the floor will participate in social programming to help build connections with other first generation students, staff, and faculty within the residence hall and explore both NYU and NYC in a variety of outings to museums, restaurants, Broadway shows, and other cultural opportunities.  

The First Generation Explorations community is open to all and designed to support students who identify as first generation - meaning you are the first in your family to attend college - and create a supportive environment to maximize success during your first year.  As a part of this community you will get the unique opportunity to connect with essential resources on campus including academic advising, career development, financial planning, and leadership development.  Additionally, the floor will participate in social programming to help build connections with other first generation students, staff, and faculty within the residence hall and explore both NYU and NYC in a variety of outings to museums, restaurants, Broadway shows, and other cultural opportunities.  

Different types of food allow for a personal exploration into one's own culture and a global exploration into society, politics, and social justice.  Our community will develop skills to learn how to cook different foods as well as explore what food means in the context of a global society.  We will travel to different neighborhoods of the city, visit local areas to see how food is sourced, attend talks relating to food and social justice issues like food inequity and insecurity, as well as participate in cooking and baking workshops.  Events will build off of one another, leading to an end of term event where we will be able to demonstrate the knowledge we have gained by partnering with a food bank to cook for those in need.

Geeks in the City calls forth those who have what some people call "geek interests" but what we personally think of as "awesome interests." Be prepared to enter an epic community of residents and bond over your shared interests.This floor is for people who are passionate about everything from TV shows about Time Lords and Targaryens to books and movies set in sci-fi and fantasy realms to everything that art and entertainment has to offer in between. New York City is a hub of activity for this subculture, and we will take advantage of it by exploring the city for its own hidden geek hubs. Past community adventures include attending midnight screenings and premiers, hosting TV marathons and book clubs, attending Comic Con, video game nights, Dungeons & Dragons game night, zombie laser tag, trips to comic book stores, and more. Geeks in the City, assemble!

Rubin Hall's location on 5^th Avenue brings to mind some images of New York at its most elegant and exclusive. Those images tend to crop out the New Yorkers struggling to meet their basic human needs. The Inequality and Justice community chooses to focus on the margins and on those struggles. We will think about how resource-distribution is determined not only by the dynamics of the market but by the gendered and racialized status-structures we inherit and often reproduce. We will think about the immediate material consequences of economic inequality on marginalized people and its longer-term impact on the social cohesion, peace, and health of society as a whole. We will think about how and when economic and social distinctions become ethical thresholds; what pitch can inequality be raised to before it is recognized as an injustice? Through service-learning, participation in cultural events, and compelling conversations with legal scholars, social researchers, activists, and each other, you will create opportunities to learn and to educate. Above all, you will think about how things could be different and might be changed.

**As a member of the Inequality & Justice floor, you will have the unique experience of being able to take your first-year Writing the Essay (WTE) course in the Rubin classroom with your Faculty Affiliate who will lead activities outside of the class throughout the city and connect to work in the class.  If you are required to take WTE, we will register you for the course and inform you prior to academic registration.

L'Etage Français gives residents the opportunity to live with others who share a common passion for the French language and the vast array of Francophone cultures found worldwide, almost all of which have representative communities here in New York City. This community is open to all levels of French speakers, from beginning to advanced, and it will take advantage of the wide-range of French-language activities and events in the city. This includes cinema, theatre, poetry slams, concerts, exhibits, festivals, restaurants, New York University’s own cultural showcase - La Maison Française, Brooklyn’s Little Haiti, and more. Some examples of past programs include outings to Les Misérables and An American in Paris on Broadway, the Metropolitan Opera House to see the famous French opera Les Contes d'Hoffman, and dinner at a local crêperie.

Get ready to laugh out loud with a group of students who enjoy all things comedy. New York City is brimming with every kind of comedy you can imagine including stand-up, improvisation, Broadway shows, and more. Countless comedians have graced the NYC comedy scene from NYU alum Aziz Ansari to Tina Fey. Laughing Matters will explore comedy across NYC to learn about the craft of comedy and how it plays into the life of a student at NYU. There is no better way to learn about comedy than experiencing it first-hand! Previous events have included Sarah Silverman, Kathy Griffin, Demetri Martin, Avenue Q, Matilda on Broadway, a fully improvised musical, and a live taping of The Daily Show. Students are not required to be funny; they just need to love to laugh. So what are you waiting for? Say “Yes, And” to this community and see what happens next!

The transition to college can always be tough when it comes to personal wellness and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Luckily, the Living Well floor is here to help students stay physically active, stress-free, and healthy! This floor is for anyone who wants to learn how to practice self-care in New York City through programs and activities themed around mindfulness, fitness, nutrition and more. This community is open to everyone, no matter your fitness level or experience with nutrition and health. All you need to have is an interest in self-care. Together we will explore a vast number of ways to stay healthy and well in NYC. Get ready for an exciting year of fitness classes, healthy snack workshops, mindfulness exercises, and fun excursions to trendy wellness spots in the city!

As you sit in front of your TV do you ever wonder about the work behind the screen? NYU Show is the perfect community for residents who are passionate about television and want to learn more about the industry. New York City is home to all different genres of television from talk shows like The Daily Show and the Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to sitcoms like Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and Broad City. With so many possibilities in New York City, you’re bound to discover something new and exciting in the world of TV. NYU Show will explore everything NYC has to offer including talk show tapings, the Museum of the Moving Image, and more! You will also have the chance to shape the NYU community by working with NYU TV to film movie trailers and work on various TV related projects. Join our crew and discover the many channels of New York City!

Representation matters. Art matters. Representation in the arts matter. As a member of this community you will explore how various forms of art and media (theatre, music, film, and dance) represent diverse identities, communities and experiences. Using New York City as a playground, we will engage with media in its various forms with a focus on how artistic representation can prompt us to become more critical, informed and active citizens of the world. As a member of this floor you will be introduced to the vibrant art world of New York City through trips to theater shows, performances, screenings, and museums.  

Vivir en Español is being offered as an exciting partnership between Residential Life and the Department of Spanish and Portuguese Languages and Literatures. Participants are given the opportunity to live with a group of friends who share a common passion for the languages and cultures of Spain and Latin America and related cultures, which have representative communities here in New York City. The group, which is open to speakers of all levels of Spanish, from beginning to advanced, will take advantage of the wide-range of Spanish-language activities and events in the city, from cinema, theatre, poetry slams and concerts to conferences, exhibits, festivals, and restaurants, from New York University’s own Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies and its King Juan Carlos I of Spain Center to a number of unique New York City resources, such as the Instituto Cervantes, the Hispanic Society of America, the Museo del Barrio, the Nuyorican Poets Cafe, and the Repertorio Español. At the same time, this Explorations community will place a focus on Spanish language by organizing sessions conducted in Spanish that will help the community prepare, expand and reflect on the activities in which it engages in the City. 

The Women at Tandon explorations community offers students a strong support system as they pursue STEM related academic programs and careers here at NYU. This community will foster engagement in the world of STEM through visits to exhibitions, workshops, and speakers across New York City. Some examples are the Museum of Math, Discovery in Times Square, and more. Participants on this floor will also have the opportunity to build relationships with female-identified individuals in STEM, network with successful alumnae in the STEM field, participate in social functions, watch film and read literature related to women and STEM, and get involved in community service such as tutoring in STEM subjects at local schools. The goal of this floor is to reinforce positive experiences and help foster community around this shared interest.

The Black Violets floor serves to uplift Black-identifying students by creating a safe-space within residence halls in order to foster a stronger Black community at NYU. Residents committed to celebrating the diverse facets of Black culture through curated social and cultural programming are welcome to apply. Events will include visits to museums, Black-owned restaurants, historical landmarks, and culturally related art shows. While this floor’s intent is to shine a light on the fruits of the Black diaspora, it will also explore the very real everyday implications of being Black in America with a spotlight on maintaining wellness while being socially aware. Our hope is that this will be a space of celebration and connection for students in search of representation across campus.

The First Generation Explorations community is open to all and designed to support students who identify as first generation - meaning you are the first in your family to attend college - and create an inclusive environment to maximize success at NYU.  As a part of this community you will get the unique opportunity to connect with essential resources on campus including academic advising, career development, financial planning, and leadership development.  Additionally, the floor will participate in social programming to help build connections with other first generation students (both first-year and upperclass student), staff, and faculty and explore both NYU and NYC in a variety of outings to museums, restaurants, Broadway shows, and other cultural opportunities.  

For students away from home, maintaining a healthy lifestyle can be both a challenge and an exciting opportunity. New York City offers a vast range of choices for exploring the subject of health and nutrition from markets, restaurants and cooking schools catering to macrobiotic, organic, vegan, and raw foodist lifestyles to clubs and communities committed to activities such as meditation, yoga, running, hiking, and kayaking on the Hudson, to name only a few. In addition to pursuing the more practical aspects of healthy living, our community will approach the subject of health as an intellectual field of research as well, interrogating some of its broader historical, political, and cultural implications, by hosting a series of lectures, screening documentary films as well as other activities. We may also explore developing a relationship between a local farmer and our residence hall community through a program called "community supported agriculture," which brings local, seasonal, and organic produce into our community. Through participation in this community, students will discover the many personal and social benefits that come from maintaining a healthy lifestyle both in mind and body. 

Looking for a community that celebrates your inner geek? Geek NYC is a floor that celebrates people with all sorts of "nerdy" interests, particularly those in science fiction and fantasy. We will discover this often-underrated side of New York City, and explore all it has to offer. This may include programs such as signings, movie screenings, and perhaps a day or two at New York Comic Con. All humans welcome, as well as Time Lords, Dothraki, Hobbits, and Jedi Knights, among many other fictional races and species.

The Impact NYC: Community of Collective Action floor will be an opportunity for upperclassmen students to engage in conversation of social justice in their residence hall. Through service-learning, participation in cultural events, and compelling conversations with academic scholars, social researchers, activists, and each other, the students in Impact NYC will create opportunities to learn and to educate. As a floor, we will consider our position and privileges to address some of the structural inequalities faced by those in our very communities and question the immediate material consequences of economic inequality on marginalized people and its longer-term impact on our society and surroundings in New York City. Furthermore, this floor will become a space for students with differing interests and fields to come together and begin to brainstorm ways to make an impact and take action against some of these inequalities and injustices. 

The Senior House community is designed to help seniors tackle the unique challenges of their final year. Uniquely, senior house is a community which expands to the entire W. 13th St. residence hall encompassing students from various schools, degrees, and interests. Residents of Senior House can expect to be supported in their final year through Wasserman collaborations, apartment hunting tips, financing 101 series, and much more! There is a focus on #LIFEAFTERCOLLEGE, and professional development within this community alongside a balance of wellness and  mindfulness programming - since it is never too early to learn about work/life balance. Senior House will also help residents make the most of their time left at NYU with a #NYCBUCKETLIST series where residents can visit places in NYC they have not gotten to do yet. This includes activities like Top of the Rock, Ice Skating and more!

Serve the City is a community designed for upperclassmen who are passionate about community service and interested in humanitarian issues. We will participate in service projects throughout New York City's five boroughs as well as host documentary screenings and discussions about various service related topics. If interested, residents on this floor will have the opportunity to suggest and program their own service projects. Although Serve the City will be focused on building a tight-knit floor community, we will also occasionally reach out to other hall residents by inviting them to serve with us. During the fall semester, community members will discuss participating in either a domestic or international service trip over spring break.

At face value, NYC seems to embody the idea that spaces of stillness and reflection are a rarity in this day and age.  Join University Chaplains Rabbi Yehuda Sarna and Imam Khalid Latif as they take you on an exploration to find spirituality in NYC by uncovering spaces of stillness and reflection both on and off campus.  This Explorations floor will offer diverse various spiritual communities, art institutions, parks, theaters, museums, and much more alongside regular discussions and group conversations to help participants build deeper self-awareness and mindfulness.  You do not have to be an active member of any religious or spiritual community to join - you just need to have a passion for understanding. 

Explore the idea of sustainability in a way you never imagined. This community will look well beyond reduce, reuse, recycle, and consider sustainability in terms of the environment, social and political movements, economic philosophies, and self-exploration. Potential opportunities for engagement include documentaries and discussions about sustainability, a sustainable food panel, an East Village community gardens tour, a trip to the farmer’s market, a bike repair workshop, and more. Join us in learning about sustainability and what it means to be a sustainable citizen in an urban environment and beyond.

As NYU moves closer toward becoming a global network of campuses, we need to provide opportunities for students to connect with other students who are about to go abroad and those for those students who have recently returned. This floor would be a place for students to connect with the global network in both social and educational ways. Students will be able to participate in programming that is directly related to both study abroad sites and the very act of travel and studying abroad. For example, members might attend a performance of Argentine Tango Off-Broadway followed by a meal of empanadas prepared by a student who has recently returned from Buenos Aires. The after-performance discussion might take place while enjoying the empanadas and hearing a lecture/ slide show from a returning student. Other activities might include connecting with the travel bookshop Idlewild Books or bringing in travel experts to discuss things like staying connected while abroad or how to set up a Flickr account to store and organize all of your photos. We would be interested in bringing in experts from the health center to talk about specific issues related to health and safety while studying abroad.