Welcome to Merit!

On behalf of the Merit staff team, we welcome you to the Merit community and to the University of Wisconsin-Madison! The Merit staff is excited for your arrival and eager to assist you in experiencing an engaging and successful start to your time at UW-Madison. This website will help you learn more about what the Merit community offers and how you can make your college experience the very best.

Sincerely,

"Location, Location, Location"

Merit is nestled in the Southeast area of campus near the Southeast Recreational Facility (SERF), the Kohl Center, and down the street from the food service venues Ed's Express and Pop's Club. Merit is also just a block away from the new University Square, which houses University Health Services, a Walgreen's, a cafe, and various shops.

Residents also appreciate Merit's proximity to State Street where they have access to restaurants, shops, and entertainment.

Distinguishing Features

• A small quiet environment, which is home to approximately 60 residents.
• Merit's main floor houses a large den for studying and socializing.
• Each resident has access to a spacious kitchen, perfect for enjoying the company of others.
• Laundry conveniently located in the building.
• Merit's backyard houses a courtyard with seating and BBQs.
• Merit residents enjoy access to many of the resources housed in Ogg Hall, which is a larger residence hall located nearby.
• Ogg's main floor offers residents a huge main lounge, recreation room, a Technology Learning Center (TLC), two classrooms, a music room, and the Ogg Hall Desk.
• Ogg's Hall Desk provides many convenient services including mail service, a free DVD library, sports equipment check-out, and sign-ups for activities.

Academics

We never lose sight of why you are here: to learn!

• Cross-College Advising is located across the street in Ogg Hall. Professional academic advisors and peer advisors work out of Ogg Hall to help students explore their academic interests and register for classes.
• Free tutors for economics, math, chemistry, and writing are available nearby in the neighborhood!
• Use Class Connections as a way to connect with fellow residents that take the same classes as you and form study groups, study-lock-ins, and group trips to the library.
• Participate in academic recognition programs that support your achievements in the classroom.
• Join a book club to take a break from the text books. It's a great way to meet other Merit and Ogg students.

Involvement

Merit House is part of a large community of residence halls (Ogg Hall, Smith Hall, and Susan B. Davis House), which house two residence hall organizations: TOGGA (The OGG Association) and SHO (Smith Hall Organization). Both offer great opportunities for involvement, leadership development, and socializing. Here are some examples of activities from 2008-2009:

• Trips include downhill skiing, weekend excursions to neighboring amusement and water parks, and trips to the theatre to see Broadway shows and movies on the big screen.
• Sports competitions, dance parties, open mic nights, movie screenings, craft nights, and more.
• Start your own activity or club! In the past, student groups have ranged from a book club to a Zombie Enthusiast's Club!

Diversity and Social Justice

An important focus of University Housing is to make your home welcoming to you and every other resident. We strive to actively support diverse and socially just communities where all members feel safe and valued. Some of the ways that we have done this in the past include:

• Monthly themed programming and dialogues. Examples of topics include race, gender, socio-economic status, religion, and sexual orientation.
• A variety of educational trainings including Safe Zone, which fosters awareness of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered (LGBT) issues.
• Hosting different educational opportunities, for example, bringing a Civil Rights leader to Ogg Hall to give a presentation and speak with students.
• Cultural outings like trips to Chicago and Milwaukee to visit museums and see theatre performances.
• Community service opportunities such as hosting food and clothing drives, raising money for local organizations, and providing service to the larger Madison community.

Community

Living in the residence halls can be one of the exciting times in one's life. Our hope is that you are able to build lifelong friendships with your fellow residents and have a great experience living in the residence halls. From movie nights, outings to restaurants, and other fun activities, our staff will do our best to provide opportunities for you to meet other people, make friends, and have a good time. We hope that you take the initiative to get connected to others and participate in the community.