The new Plantz RHD this year is Jacob Cogger from Washburn, Wis. There, five hours north on Lake Superior, Cogger grew up on an organic farm. He went to school at Northern Michigan University where he majored in international studies and German. While at NMU, Jacob was also an RLA for several years, which led to his interest in being an RHD.
During his sophomore year of college, he did a semester for credit taking classes, backpacking, canoeing, caving, kayaking and rock climbing around the American southwest, including Texas, Colorado and Arizona.
“Much of the goal of the program was to see how you yourself interacted with the environment you were in and the seven other girls and eight other boys that were on the program with you,” said Cogger.
During his senior year at NMU, Cogger also spent six months studying abroad in India, four months of which he spent in class and two of which he spent traveling around the country on $8 a day, including hotels and “eating some of the best food I have ever had.”
His collateral position on campus is as Residence Life Leadership Coordinator with Colman RHD Roman Brusovankin. The job consists of organizing hall councils and regulating most of the clubs on campus.
This new collateral position is an attempt to bridge the gap between student groups and the administration, while also making sure that the clubs get everything they need.
As far as his interests and hobbies go, Cogger enjoys anything outdoors, be it kayaking, canoeing, rock climbing or caving. He also enjoys art and is in the process of painting murals on the walls of his RHD apartment in Plantz.
He has been volunteering with the community herbs program, in which high school students work in the SLUG garden and sell the produce at the local weekly farmers market.
Cogger hopes to be here at Lawrence for a year or two, then maybe head off to graduate school to study sustainable development, architectural design or something concerning international humanitarian aid. He would also like to continue traveling.
When asked about his thoughts on Lawrence, Cogger replied, “I love working here at Lawrence. Even though I don’t play an instrument I really enjoy the musical culture that is present around Lawrence. The students are great and very motivated and getting to work with them is a very rewarding experience.