Experience Magazine

18-19 / 24

SPRING 2016 SPRING 2016 18 19
EXPERIENCE: ALUMNI
JULIE BARNES
In 1980, Julie Barnes, a business major, was
fresh on the scene at Clemson University.
Coming from Pittsburgh, Pa., acclimating to
a new place definitely brought on the freshman
blues, but because of her experience living in
prefabricated housing (prefabs), she and her
roommates learned to take care of one another.
They became a small family that year, living in
the largest of the prefabs, which was located
behind Cooper Library at the time.
Because of her and her roommates’ newfound
freedom and the fact that upperclassmen were
known for wanting to live where they had
been placed, Barnes said of her time spent in
the prefab, “We were spoiled.” Although she
would have loved living in one of the traditional
freshman residence halls, she felt completely
connected to campus because of her close
proximity to the very heart of the University.
Admittedly, this is the reason she and her
roommates took part in so many activities
while attending Clemson. They even decided
to live on campus for the duration of their
four years as students. Barnes now has two
daughters who are Clemson alumnae and one
daughter who is a current Clemson student.
Her eldest daughter graduated with the class
of 2013, her middle with the class of 2015 and
her youngest is a sophomore. They all lived on
campus at one time or another, and her last two
daughters have definitely had experiences with
the freshman blues. This is where Barnes believes
prefab housing was great for her because being
with her roommates gave her the opportunity to
never feel alone. They filled a void that she does
not believe would have been filled had she been
placed in a traditional freshman residence hall.
Although none of her daughters will get the
chance to live in the new Douthit Hills project,
she is thrilled that Clemson is building in the
area and particularly feels it’s “very important
for Bridge students to live on campus.”
JAMES ROBILOTTA
Transitioning from an undergraduate
career at the University of North Carolina
Wilmington, James Robilotta arrived at
Clemson University in 2005 to enter one
of the University’s masters programs —
Masters of Counselor Education: Student
Affairs Practice in Higher Education. He
lived on campus during both years of graduate
school and said he loved it because of the
easy access to everything campus has to offer,
including friends.
While at Clemson, Robilotta participated
in many on-campus groups and organizations.
They include the Clemson University Gospel
Choir (CUGC), CU Singers and Mock Turtle
soup as well as Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc.,
during spring 2007. His love for improvisation
actually stemmed from his involvement
and experiences with Mock Turtle Soup,
the University’s only comedy improvisation
troupe. He was also a residential director
for the duration of his graduate career at
Clemson, which enhanced his love for campus
life and the tight-knit family and community
that living on campus offers.
When asked how he feels about the Douthit
Hills project, Robilotta said, “Any time you
can add beds to campus, it’s a good look.”
This is true, especially considering the fact
that our student enrollment is consistently
rising. He is particularly excited about the
opportunity it provides for Bridge to Clemson
students to become integrated into the
campus community. Robilotta spoke very
highly of the Bridge program, highlighting the
fact that Clemson’s willingness to make these
students a priority “is really exciting, and
that’s a model other colleges should be
trying to follow as well.”
Since his graduation from Clemson, Robilotta
has become an authentic leadership speaker,
personal coach and author.