t-fact
House meetings are a key component of our self-governance. We use Robert's Rules of Order as a guideline for our meetings.
Telluride House is founded on three philosophical 'pillars' that form the basis of house life. They are intellectual inquiry, community service, and self-governance. While they are not formally defined, they are the set of ideals that support the mission of our house.
Intellectual inquiry is the first pillar of Telluride House. While all three pillars are appreciated equally, Housemembers have consistently prided themselves on being the leaders and best in academics at the University of Michigan. This spirit appears in house life as well.
We do:
Community service is our second pillar. Through the yearly House projects, members of the Telluride House have created opportunities to make a difference in their community while also furthering the goals of the house and the association. Projects change from year to year, but have in the past included tutoring at local high schools or meal preparation at an Ann Arbor teen center.
The project allows the house to bond as we pursue a common goal; considering the emotions sparked in intellectual debate and differing opinions brought out in the course of self-governance, this pillar often gives us a moment to reflect that we are a kind of family with similarly good intensions at heart.
Self-governance is our third pillar at Telluride House. Our autonomy and practice of self-governance is a unique aspect of the house in comparison to other organizations at the University of Michigan.
At Telluride House, self-governance means...
Whether sitting in Housemeetings, working in a committee, or attempting to amend the by-laws, there are countless opportunities for and experiences with self-governance inherent in house life.