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Mixing it up with the city

By Carla Beecher

Chandler Sullivan Illustration

This year is Chandler Sullivan’s fourth calling the Wabash Building home. The Woodstock native and music education senior has so enjoyed living on campus that he joined the resident life staff his sophomore year and recently was promoted to office coordinator. He’s also in his second year as president of the Student Government Association, which allows him to regularly meet with University President Ali R. Malekzadeh, PhD, on behalf of all 4,127 students. Living, learning, working and volunteering in the building gives Sullivan a unique perspective on this glass and steel vertical campus.

“Chicago’s our campus,” …
“It’s pretty exciting to be right in the heart of the Loop. It’s definitely a different experience than a traditional campus where you go from building to building for everything. Here, it’s pretty easy to not leave the campus (especially during snowstorms) — everything is here: classes, dorms, cafeteria, fitness center, extracurricular clubs, lounges, the library and the new Lakers Union on the third floor. At Residence Life, we like to tell students to mix it up with the city. To encourage that interaction, we host weekly events showcasing locations in neighborhoods around the city because everything is just a CTA ride away.”

As part of his student government duties, Sullivan meets monthly with President Malekzadeh in his 13th floor office where he gives voice to his fellow classmates’ concerns, ideas and suggestions to make Roosevelt better for everyone.

“President Malekzadeh is super personable, accessible and really enjoys getting to know students and hearing about what’s on their minds,” Sullivan said.

Sullivan will graduate in May with a degree in music education, certifying him to teach K-12 students. Down the road, he has plans to earn a master’s degree in educational administration, setting himself up to become a school principal or possibly work in student affairs administration at a college or university.

“Whatever I end up doing, I plan to bring with me the social-justice lessons I learned here. Admittedly, I didn’t know much about the university’s mission when I first arrived, but I learned how I could use ideas of inclusiveness, diversity and equity in whatever my own work entails as I begin my career. It’s just one of the many great lessons I’ve learned during my time here.”

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