When first-year College student Blair Reilly came to the University in August, she knew her life was about to change dramatically.
Like most first years, Reilly prepared herself for life away from home. From black pants to laundry detergent, she had everything she needed to get off on the right foot -- well, almost everything.
When Blair went to bed that first night in dorms, one thing was missing -- her twin sister, Meredith.
"This is the longest we've ever been apart, and it's only been about two weeks," Reilly said. "We talk almost every day."
Despite the difficult transition from seeing her sister every day to not at all, Reilly said she thinks college is the best time for them to go their separate ways.
"But we always keep in touch," she added. "I want to stay involved in [Meredith's] life."
When Meredith visits the University later this year, Reilly said she's not going to tell anyone.
"Meredith's coming down sometime," Reilly said. "I'm not telling anyone when because we're identical."
Although Reilly and her sister parted ways for college, many twins have stayed together.
Fourth-year College student Cristen Hodges and her twin sister, fourth-year Architecture student Lauren Hodges, have stuck together all four years at the University.
Besides living together for three of their four years here, Cristen and Lauren share the duty of president for "Who's HOO," a twins club they started this year.
The idea for "Who's HOO" originated two summers ago, when Cristen was an orientation leader.
Cristen said she got an opportunity to meet many sets of incoming twins through her job and began thinking about forming the club.
"I thought this would be a good start-of-the-year kind of thing for twins who have been separated from their other twin," Cristen said. "People who might be feeling alone because they've had their twin for their whole lives would be able to meet other twins with the same feelings of withdrawal."
Besides lending support, Cristen said "Who's HOO" is a way for students to find answers to questions unique to twins.
"We are going to start a Web site with information about our members," she said. "Things like whether they're fraternal or identical, what activities they do and whether they lived together first year. It will be a good reference for prospective and transfer twins."
Cristen also said she hopes to make connections with Alumni Hall to find other twins who have graduated from the University.
"It will be a great way to start a network for careers," she said.
"Who's HOO" kicked off the year with a meeting at fourth-year College student and "Who's HOO" vice-president Elizabeth Argeris's Lawn room.
"I [was] really surprised at the turn-out," first-year College student Amber Davis said.
Attending the meeting with her identical twin sister and first-year College student Tiffany Davis, Amber said the pair heard about the club at the Student Activities Fair.
"I thought the club sounded really interesting," Tiffany said. "I had never heard of anything like this before."
Although the Davis twins decided to live separately this year, they ended up in dorms right next to each other.
"It's cool because I get to meet her suitemates and she gets to meet mine," Tiffany said.
In high school, Amber said, the girls did almost everything together.
"We played on the same doubles team for tennis," she said. "People would be confused already because we look exactly alike, and then we would switch around the net. She was better at backhand and I was better at forehand so we helped each other out. Sometimes the opponents were baffled."
Now at college, Amber and Tiffany said they are doing some of the same activities and some different. Both girls, however, attended the first "Who's HOO" get-together last Monday night.
Although about 25 people came to the meeting, Cristen Hodges said about 60 people signed up for the club at the Student Activities Fair.
"I think it's gotten off to a good start," Cristen said. "But I want things to pick up a little bit. I hope to get more people involved."
Thinking ahead, Cristen said "Who's HOO" is going to have social events such as a tailgate on the Lawn before one of the football games.
Also, she hopes to have speakers come to the University to give lectures about twins.
"And I want to try and get [former University football player twins] Tiki and Rhonde Barber to come talk to us about their experiences at the University," Cristen added.
Since "Who's HOO" is brand new, Cristen said the club doesn't have enough funds yet to do big events.
"Some of our ideas for the future are to go on trips, like to the twins restaurant in NY," she said. "This year we will have to apply for funding."
For now, Cristen said she's looking forward to getting everything started.
"I'm glad that we've started 'Who's HOO,'" she said. "I wish that we had something like this when we were starting at U.Va. It's nice having the references of older people because decision making was hard for us."
Reilly said the club has been great for meeting new people.
"I love meeting new people, especially people with something in common," she said. "It think 'Who's HOO' is great because at least people without twins here can relate."
Third-year College student Dave Hoffman agreed with Reilly. Hoffman, who has a fraternal twin brother at Radford University, said he thinks it's interesting to know what his brother's college experience is like.
"Since we both transferred, it's cool to compare stories," Hoffman said.
Cristen Hodges said many twins at the meeting had similar childhood experiences.
"A lot of us had done twin studies," she said. "It's cool to meet people that have done the same kind of things when we were little."
In the future, Cristen said she hopes that "Who's HOO" expands and that everyone continues to be involved.
"I hope that's it's successful and that it helps prospective students," she said. "Maybe in the future, we can even establish this kind of club at other schools and become nationwide."
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