Did you get a "hi" today? That's the name of the new program sweeping the seventh floor of the Morgenstern Residence Hall, and quite possibly soon coming to a floor near you.

The program "Did You Get a 'Hi' Today?" initiated by Morg seventh floor Resident Advisor Jonathan Mantell encourages students to say hi to one and other in passing, whether it is just on their dorm floor or around campus.

Mantell first introduced his program at the Chinese food floor party in late November. He placed numerous fliers around the floor bulletin board with the hope of publicizing his new campaign. According to Mantell, the inspiration for starting this program came from the students on his floor. "The students are busy and not everyone has time to say 'hi,' so I developed a program that creates a friendlier environment," he said.

Well received, the program has met with great reviews. "Before the program started, the seventh floor was quite unfriendly," Yeshiva College Sophomore Grant Silverstein recalled. "People would walk by each other and never say a word, but since the program started, everyone says hi to each other, and the floor seems much friendlier."

Associate Dean of Students Chaim Nissel felt that the program is beneficial to the students. "Any program that promotes student interactions on campus is great," he commented.

According to Mantell, the success of the program is growing due to its originality. "During the RA Orientation, [Director of Housing] Ron Lamb and Dr. Nissel tried to convey what they felt was one of the most important things about being an RA. The 'Hi Campaign' is the manifestation of their goals on my floor. I think the feeling of living together comes through in a humorous way, and I think my floor is a different place because of it," Mantell concluded.

Although seemingly efficient in actualizing its goal of making the campus a friendlier environment, the 'Hi Campaign' on the seventh floor of Morg must spread throughout the campus, according to many students intent on extending the newfound camaraderie arising from the program.

"The campaign is working, but the fact remains that in order to get a friendlier environment around campus, others must say 'hi' to their friends, and to the friends they do not know yet," pointed out Yeshiva College Junior Yair Amsel. "As Mantell's signs read, 'In order to get a 'hi' you have to give a 'hi.'' The students must be outgoing and [must] make that first attempt to say 'hi,' which may seem a little strange at first, but do not all things feel that way at first?" Amsel queried rhetorically.

Random testing of the program outside of the seventh floor of Morg yielded blank stares, dirty looks, and a few "hi's" back in response to the initial unsolicited "hi" to random students. "In order for us to really take full advantage of the program, we should all try it once, because we too could be the ones to make someone's day a little better," explained Mantell.