Among the dorm buildings at UP, Shipstad is by far the most lively and social one there is. When moving in, I was excited to learn of the "open-door" policy, which helps in presenting more opportunities for "shipmates", or hall residents and staff, to meet others and contribute to the vibrant spirit that this hall is most recognized for. I extremely enjoyed and appreciated being able to live in this dorm my freshman year because this policy, with participation from everyone in the hall, helped alleviate some of the awkwardness that often comes with meeting so many new people at once.