Don't be deceived. Just because eight students live together in a suite devoted to "health and wellness" doesn't mean whole-wheat crackers and organic carrot sticks are the only items stocked in their mini-fridges. Exercise machines do not clutter the common room, and the medicine cabinet is not packed with vitamins. In fact, chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream, truffles and a box of extra-butter popcorn sit on counters and fridge corners of this Rosenthal suite, where members of the new Residence Life-initiated themed housing program have recently settled in.

While the rest of Brandeis students endured the tribulations and trauma of the housing lottery last spring, these eight students and the 12 others in themed communities in the Village and Castle already knew where they would be living. Introduced last spring and launched this semester, Themed Learning Communities (TLC) place students with similar interests into housing together, creating a "shared living-learning environment" according to Residence Life.

"Our hope in creating [TLCs] was to have students with similar interests come together, live together and enhance their experiences around a common interest," said Charles River Apartments Quad Director Jason McKnight, one of the original brains behind the initiative. This would in turn "enhance the Brandeis community through that common interest," he said.

After completing an application last January that included two essays, a rsum and a recommendation, TLC students were accepted into the program before the regular housing lottery began. "Ultimately it's a community within a community. It's not like this 'Real World' phenomenon where they are given a task and they are constantly together 24/7," Knight said.

Usen Castle's Schwartz Hall is now home to five sophomores interested in the arts, and Village C tower houses seven upperclassman devoted to Justice, Service and Change. The Health and Wellness TLC, playfully called "H-Dub" by its residents, is located in Rosenthal North and houses eight sophomores interested in achieving and encouraging healthy lifestyles.

"College is kind of an unhealthy situation," Rosenthal TLC resident Maria Vanikiotis '08 said. "You are up till four in the morning and you eat fried food and pizza at 2 a.m. and you are so stressed out most of the time ... Living in this community is helpful because we all have the same goals and we will help each other out."

At the same time, residents assured that they aren't the "Health and Wellness police" and won't be forcing their lifestyle on anyone else.

As part of the TLC program, students will coordinate or assist in the planning of at least eight programs related to the selected theme by the end of the year. Half of these programs must be co-sponsored with other campus groups and one must reach beyond Brandeis.

"We saw ourselves as helping to bridge the gap between the social advocacy groups and political groups on campus and helping people to get more involved with social justice," said Abby Waldman '06, who is the only senior participating in the TLCs.

The seven students of the Justice, Service and Change TLC, in coordination with their CA and a quad director are planning to address issues of poverty in Waltham and energy conservation on the Brandeis Campus. The TLCs not only want to create new programming, but also enhance the resources and programs already available on campus as well.

"My hopes for this year are to create some fun and meaningful programming," said the CA for the Justice, Service and Change TLC, Abby Wiener '06. "Not only to work for justice and change on a primary level but to work to motivate others."

Arts TLC students expressed interest in making campus arts programming more accessible to "average" students. One way: They plan to create a gallery in the Schwartz Common Room to showcase the work of fine arts students.

The Health and Wellness TLC is already planning a trip to an organic farm in Waltham and hope to organize visits by nutritionists, health specialists and trainers. Other ideas are a breast cancer awareness event and health festival.

Formal events and activities aside, TLCs are meant to give students a sense of community and connection. "I like the idea of making new friends again with people of similar interests," said Sarah Laredo '08. "I thought it was a great opportunity, actually."

Laredo is living in Schwartz hall with four other sophomore girls whose interests in the arts range from pottery and painting to belly dancing and violin. Many students in the TLC hope this living arrangement will provide the "artsy" atmosphere they've been seeking. Laredo is not an art major, and she does not plan to be "insanely involved" in art. "But it's definitely an interest of mine that I would like to pursue," she said. "And this is a good way to do it."

Living and working with the same people creates an interesting work environment for residents, who say they have held some meetings late at night in their pajamas and can just knock on a neighbor's door when they want to bounce around program ideas.

"We get to coordinate things in the bathroom, in the basement or wherever," Arts TLC member Crystallin Dillon '08 said. "It's so cool to have all of your club members as your housemates. It's kind of fun and it's really a unifying factor."

While Residence Life had set up the program to allow up to 20 students in each community, only about 10 students applied to each one. Students who had accepted a position in a TLC were not supposed to receive housing lottery numbers, but this accidentally occurred last spring, which Residence Life staff said may be the reason that a few students dropped out of the program. Residence Life and TLC members especially attribute the small numbers to the newness of the program, the aggressive application timeline last spring and the fact that this program is simply not for everyone.

While many TLC students said that the guaranteed housing was a partial incentive for program involvement, both participants and directors are confident the demanding application process and commitment level of the program ensures that only students really interested in the themes and learning-living concept of the communities follow through.

Unlike the two other TLCs, residents of the H-Dub Rosenthal suite were friends before they applied for the program. They admitted that some people were skeptical of their intentions.

"I know a few people were touchy about it. But, if it had been a hall on East, we all still would have done it. It's not for the suite, it's for the program. The fact that we do get to live together is a benefit, but it's not why we did it," H-Dub resident Kait O'Leary '08 said.

Students and staff involved in the TLC program emphasize that it is in no way meant to be exclusive or isolating; everyone is welcome to join in the activities of the communities.

When you enter their hallways, though, don't be surprised if you can't feel the social justice or art vibes instantly, and realize that chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream is healthy once in a while.