South Spencer Residential College, open to all majors, is ideal for students interested in justice and law in their personal, academic, and professional lives. Law and justice come alive through civic participation. Students explore how legal systems, ethical frameworks, and public service shape a just society—while actively engaging in their communities to make change.
Joining the Honors College in Fall 2015, South Spencer houses about 100 Honors College students and is connected to North Spencer, sharing similar room amenities. The hall features a first-floor parlor, a game room, computer lab, and Honors College offices. With on-site advisors and frequent events, South Spencer is centrally located next to Jackson Library.
Signature Events
Dreaming in Color: Pillows and Tye Dye
Kick off your year with color and connection through Dreaming in Color! In this fun and creative welcome event, South Spencer residents will tie-dye their own pillowcases—turning blank fabric into vibrant personal expressions.
As colors swirl and patterns form, residents will engage in guided conversation starters to help break the ice and build meaningful connections. The tie-dyed pillowcases are yours to keep—a colorful reminder of your new home and community.
Halloween Coven: A Night of Mystical Self-Care Step into the magic of the season at Halloween Coven — a witchy wellness event celebrating intuition, healing, and a little bit of mystery. Explore the mystical side of self-care with stations featuring crystals, tarot readings, and DIY cleansing baths kits designed to help you reset your energy and connect with your inner self.
Come enjoy a night of intention, reflection, and Halloween vibes. Costumes and open minds encouraged!
DIY Blankets for the Homeless Make a difference one blanket at a time. Join us for DIY Blankets for the Homeless, a hands-on service event where students come together to create cozy, no-sew fleece blankets for individuals experiencing homelessness.
No crafting experience needed — just bring your heart, your hands, and a willingness to help. Every blanket made is a small act of comfort and care for someone in need. Come for the cause, stay for the community.
Student Committees
South Spencer Ambassadors are responsible for promoting the residential college to prospective students by showcasing its vibrant community, unique programs, and core values. Ambassadors assist with outreach efforts such as open houses, campus tours, information sessions, and the development of promotional materials. Through this work, the ambassadors play a key role in shaping the future of South Spencer while giving members the opportunity to develop leadership, communication, and event planning skills.
Is responsible for planning and executing the annual Spencer Halloween Coven, one of the most anticipated events of the year. Committee members collaborate to create a spooky, fun, and welcoming atmosphere through themed decorations, activities, and programming that reflect the spirit and creativity of the Spencers community. This committee is perfect for students who enjoy event planning, love all things Halloween, and wants to help bring magic and excitement to the residential college experience.
Is a student-led committee within the residential college dedicated to exploring issues of social justice, human rights, and global equity. Through thoughtful dialogue, educational programming, and collaborative action, the committee creates space for residents to engage with pressing international and domestic issues—from climate justice and migration to racial eqaulity and economic disparity. Ideal for students passionate about advocacy and change-making, the Collective fosters a community grounded in awareness, empathy, and a commitment to global citizenship.
Focuses on engaging South Spencer residents in meaningful conversations and programming related to law, government, and public policy. The committee organizes events such as speaker panels, debate nights, workshops, and civic engagement initiatives that connect students with professionals and current issues in the legal and political spheres. Ideal for students interested in law, politics, advocacy, or public service, this committee fosters an informed, active, and thoughtful community within the residential college.
Is dedicated to promoting a culture of service, empathy, and community engagement within South Spencer. This committee organizes volunteer opportunities, service projects, and reflective programming that highlight the impact of giving back—both locally and beyond. By amplifying diverse perspectives on service and social responsibility, the committee encourages residents to become active, compassionate change makers and fosters a deeper connection between personal values and community action.
Voices of Justice is South Spencer Residential College’s student-led newsletter, dedicated to amplifying conversations on law, justice, and civic engagement. Rooted in our community’s commitment to exploring legal systems, ethical frameworks, and public service, Voices of Justice highlights student perspectives, campus initiatives, and global issues that shape a more equitable world. Through articles, interviews, and event coverage, the committee creates a platform for informed dialogue and action—empowering South Spencer residents to connect their personal, academic, and professional journeys to the pursuit of justice
Featured Coursed
MAC Global and Intercultural (MGIL)
Instructor: Anderson, Kaitlyn
The history of law and human rights is a vibrant tapestry woven through the fabric of civilizations across time and geography. This course provides an in-depth exploration of how legal systems developed over time and the evolution of what is considered a human right from the ancient world to the present. In an ever-evolving global landscape, understanding how laws and rights developed and changed is paramount for understanding current political, social, and cultural systems.
Creating a new vision of our world takes time, thought, and effort. As we navigate broken systems, disconnected communities, and systemic disenfranchisement, it also takes tremendous courage to imagine what could be different about the ways we engage ourselves, each other, and the earth. In this course, we will read texts that invite us to be brave and think through new possibilities for our lives and the social systems in which we find ourselves embedded. From meditations on the unique lessons marine mammals can offer us about connection, to explorations of the anti-capitalist possibilities that mushrooms represent; from crochet coral reefs as meditations on transgender identity as a process of self-making and becoming; to arguments for new models of justice, the authors we will read in this course show us how to stretch our imaginations to dream the world differently. As we engage with these readings, students will explore current events, issues, or questions through written work that explores new ways of thinking and engaging the world around us.
A central feature of this course is the journey we will embark on related to reading and writing. Through reflexivity journals and in-class workshops, we will explore researching/reading/writing as embodied processes, asking what happens within our bodies as we do this work. You will gradually build your research paper throughout the semester, as you play with the written word, engage in peer feedback exercises, and reflect on your own identity as a writer/researcher/scholar.
What do we mean when we say disability? Should cure be the goal?
This course critically examines the complex interplay between disability, concepts of cure, and societal structures through an intersectional lens. Students will explore how disability is not just a medical condition but is deeply embedded in social, cultural, and political contexts.
Key topics include:
Historical and contemporary definitions of disability
Exploring different models and theories around disability
Intersectionality and its relevance to disability studies, focusing on how race, gender, sexuality, and other identities shape experiences of disability
The implications of cure narratives and medical interventions on marginalized communities
Disability activism and advocacy within diverse social movements
Through readings, discussions, and critical analyses, students will engage with case studies, personal narratives, and theoretical frameworks that highlight the diverse experiences of disabled individuals. The course aims to foster a nuanced understanding of how societal norms influence perceptions of disability and the ongoing debates surrounding cure and acceptance. By the end of the course, students will be equipped to critically assess policies, practices, and cultural representations related to disability in a rapidly changing world.