When you arrive on campus tomorrow to begin your time at Brown, a solid and supportive community will be ready and excited to welcome you. 

• Brown students and staff members from across campus, wearing teal t-shirts, will greet you at check-in locations to help you find your way to your new home at Brown. 
• Bruno Leaders (students who can be identified by their purple t-shirts) will be ready to help you settle in and guide you through New Student Orientation. 
• Area Coordinators (professional staff who live in the residence halls) will be present in the buildings to welcome you and create opportunities for you to connect with fellow classmates. 
• Brown University Residential Life staff will be on-site to answer any questions you may have to help your transition to residential living at Brown. All Residential Life staff will be identifiable by their name badges.

At times during move-in, you may also see evidence of student activism. Members of the Labor Organization of Community Coordinators (LOCC), a union representing undergraduate students working for Residential Life as Community Coordinators, have announced a pending work stoppage set to begin on Wednesday, Aug. 28.

Brown did not object to LOCC's petition to form a union. Brown voluntarily recognized LOCC, and since February, the University and union have engaged in a collective bargaining process toward the union’s first contract. Despite a collegial and good-faith effort and progress on many fronts, work to reach a mutually acceptable agreement remains ongoing. Students in the union are within their rights to engage in a work stoppage, and Brown will respect those rights as both parties continue to work toward a contract resolution.

While this labor action may draw some attention during New Student Move-in and Orientation, we are committed to providing a smooth welcome for you and your family and support as you begin your Brown experience. Should the work stoppage extend into the coming weeks, the Office of Residential Life will share additional information about how Brown staff ensure continuity in support for all students in our residence halls. Any additional communications will be published on this community messages page on our Division of Campus Life website, where you’ll also find prior messages on how Brown supports the rights of students to protest in ways that do not interfere with the rights of other community members on campus or the normal functions of the University.

We are looking forward to welcoming you to campus. 

Brenda Ice
Senior Associate Dean and Senior Director, Office of Residential Life