Research Memo: Note to Self

While doing some research, there were a few sources that I stumbled upon that might help me understand my fieldsite a little better. The first source was an article in Education Digest called “Computer Labs Get Rebooted as Lounges.” This article talked about how computer labs are being “transformed,” in a sense, into lounges. It talked about how computer labs have been used as communal spaces for students to gather and interact, so now they are being redesigned, in some universities, into lounges. By turning them into lounges, it will be comfier for the students, more relaxed, and some claim that the schools are investing in the happiness of the students by renovating and keeping up with the expenses of these new facilities. This has made me think that maybe this is the purpose of the café, a place where students can relax and interact with others, a place the college has invested in to make the students happy. I know RIC had created a plan for an expansion of the Student Union building in order to accommodate more students, which unfortunately has been rejected, but it shows that the school is interested in students’ opinions.

Another source I found, “Today’s Student Union,” is a periodical that discusses the way students communicate with one another and how students feel empowered in the sense that they feel like they can make a difference. It talked about how students have more friends and a wider influence due to social networking, which allows them to share their perspectives on different issues and influence others who are connected to them. This gave me the idea that the café we have today and what we might have in the future is all to do with the student body, what they say and what they do to support those words. Back to the expansion project, most of it might not have been created if not for student’s inputs, complaints, concerns, or appraisal. Students do have a big impact on what happens on campus, but some of them just don’t realize it.

 Another article that has opened my mind is “Priceless Memories” from the Campus Life Christian College Guide. This one talked about different memories we create while in college, mainly distinguishing memories that don’t cost much versus the one’s that do. The person who wrote the article mentions how she remembers hanging out with her friends in the Student Union, laughing, pretending to study, times where all you had to pay for was a snack. Other memories, such as class trips, cost more, but they’re worth it. The café is one of those places where memories are made at little to no cost, but also where you can plan for your future memories because they advertise different events and trips hosted by the campus, trying to get students involved and meet new people – making memories.

There were also two articles published in The Anchor, RIC’s student-run newspaper. Both “Good eats at RIC” and “Grub time at RIC” talk about changes that have occurred over the summer to the different dining areas on campus. This includes the main dining facility and the two cafes on campus. Due to students’ input, changes have been made to the menus, providing a variety of new foods for students as well as healthier, even vegetarian, options for students. The students are informed that the café has extended hours as well as meal plans that the school offers, where students are allotted so many bonus dollars that can be spent in the café on refreshments. With this information, students can utilize the new and improved facilities. What I’m curious to find out are do all students know about these changes, and are they beneficial, as in are students actually taking advantage of these new changes. I know I am, and I’m loving being able to spend more time there!

Observation #2

I went to the cafe again on Friday October 12 to do some more observation. I went later at night, from 6:26-7:17pm, so it was a different atmosphere than my first visit. It was a slow night, which was to be expected since the majority of the students left on campus are residents. It's so empty that it actual starts to get cold due to the lack of body heat in the room. It felt weird being there, though, because I felt like I was spying on people while observing their activities because there wasn't much else to focus on.

As I reflect over my observations, I can begin to sense unity and tension in the cafe, however, the two seem to blur together when trying to figure out what's going on. There is tension in the sense that there are a lot of things happening at the same time, yet there is unity there because each thing that is going on has connections to multiple people that are there. For instance, you have people using the computers, eating, doing homework, and sitting on the couches, quite a variety of activities, yet each person that can be classified into one of those areas, creating a sense of unity in the sense that all of those people there chose the cafe to do whatever it is they are doing. Sure, some people might have there own reasons, but those reasons are probably similar between most of the people doing the same things, creating that unity that I hope to discover.

As I start to create some ideas and questions about the cafe, I begin to realize that they might be a little biased. Since I am a resident on campus, I have my own reasons to go to the cafe, along with some of my friends. With that, I see myself starting to assume that most of the people at the cafe are there for the same reasons I would be if I were doing the same activity. I also notice myself assuming that certain people are either residents or commuters depending on what they are doing. Once I start talking to those people and finding out for sure, then hopefully it will clear up my biasedness and provide me with a better pool of data and information.

Fieldmap

Fieldmap

In order to expand more on my fieldsite, I created a fieldmap. This map includes a sketch of what the cafe looks like along with various questions and statements that ran through my mind as I went through each part of the cafe. By creating this fieldmap, I can study further into student socialization and activity in the cafe by trying to understand each of the different areas, trying to answer some of my questions, and incorporating my ideas.

Digital Fieldsite - The Cafe Online

Even though it is not well known place, there are several online sources that will inform you of the organization and subculture of the café at Rhode Island College. On the Rhode Island College website, there is a link that will direct you to the café’s webpage. On this webpage, there is a close up picture of the serving area, the most prominent feature of the café.

The way the webpage is set up, you can clearly identify the main components of textual variance. The title at the top of the page is bright and bold in red, one of the school colors of Rhode Island College, so that the reader is clearly informed at what the information is about. The main body of text describes the main purpose and variety of things that the café has to offer. Also in bold is the heading for the café’s hours of operations because it is usually the main thing that students are looking for when they search the website. Students are the main intended audience of this website, whether it is current or incoming students. It was written by members of the college for other members of the college, so the writer is connected to the reader.

The webpage gives off a simplistic vibe to the reader, very simple and straight-forward. It is designed for easy access and a quick read, giving the reader a basic overview of the café. The school colored banner and white background creates a warm feeling, making it a welcoming page, reader-friendly.

From visiting the website, you can understand the main subculture of the café. In the description, you will find out where the café is located, informing the reader of its new renovations to accommodate the student body. It mentions the “warm, friendly and convenient” atmosphere as well as a variety of things students can do, such as pick up mail, grab a snack, go on the internet, and even a mentions the nutritional balance they café tries to provide. You can ge the main idea of what the café is like, but in order to get the full experience, you need to go there and enjoy the time.

What’s nice about this website are the external links it provides. You can view the café menu and can connect to the social media of Rhode Island College. This way, the school can reach the students in a variety of ways, using the social media that most relates to the majority of the student population. By the hours of operation, you can see that the school tries to provide long hours that are appropriate for the student body, open late nights for residents and on the weekends, but not to inconvenience the student employees. So whether you are looking for a late night snack, a group hangout, or a place to study, the café is the ideal place to go on campus, providing students with a good working atmosphere and friendly place to be, no matter who you are or what you are there to do.

Initial Observation

I visited the cafe at Rhode Island College to take notes for the first time today. I have been there plenty of times before, but never to just sit and observe. I’m still getting used to having to pay attention to everything around me, so some of my notes may not include everything they should. I’m still stuck in the “writing what I see” phase as opposed to taking in what my other senses are feeling. However, once I keep going back, I will learn to use my other senses as well so that all of you can have a better image of what I am taking in so you can feel it too.

It was definitely a different experience than what I am used to in the café – taking notes and “spying” on people to see what they are up to. I had to try to make sure I wasn’t focusing on someone for too long so that they didn’t think I was creeping on them. I noticed a lot of people there, that’s for sure. Being lunch time, I figured there would be a lot to observe, and there definitely was. There were lots of people getting up to leave and other people walking in, changing what was going on around me constantly. I was interested in the people on the computers the most. There are five computers in the café that students can use, and students were coming and going every time I looked that way. Some people were doing the same thing on the computer, on the same computer for that matter, at different times. I just thought that was curious, especially since both were playing online chess? Who still plays online chess? The most difficult thing was definitely trying to take in everything around me without trying to miss anything. Obviously as I’m taking notes, I’m focusing on one person or a few people at a time. There will be some things that I miss, but that’s going to happen. I need to figure out how I can still make sure that I can catch certain things that are going on around me without losing focus or detail.