Resident assistants
play demanding role

Representing the 180 resident assistants on the campus as part of RA Appreciation Day are (front row, from left) Tykisha Bratcher (Ray Street B), Melissa Dugan (Kent Hall), Faith Kain (Thompson), Karen Hammer (Russell D/E), Chaneta Brooks (Christiana East), Angela Warren (Christiana East), and Carmeleta McLean (Pencader C); and (second row, from left) Vice President Roland Smith, Allyson Warrington (Rodney E), Rose Chen (Gilbert A), Arash Sammander (Pencader J), Cara Crossland (Harrington A), Marianne Connolly (Sharp) and Kelly Laing (Ray Street C); and (third row, from left) Rob Longwell-Grice, residence life; Zach Chupa (Squire), Tim Gilmore (Gilbert F), Derek Rieder (Thompson), Ayis Pyrros (Sypherd) and Will Lowe (Rodney C).

No one is on the frontline in the University's effort to curb high-risk drinking more than the students who work as resident assistants. On Tuesday, Oct. 21, the Office of Residence Life sponsored Resident Assistant Appreciation Day as a time to say "thank you" and "job well done" to the 180 students who hold these jobs.

Roland M. Smith, vice president for student life, issued a proclamation acknowledging RAs "important and demanding role in the life of the University" and calling them "the heart of the residence life program."

Smith praised resident assistants for holding jobs that require work 24 hours a day, while at the same time, taking classes and experiencing the same ups and downs as other students in terms of exams, relationships, pressures and achievements. He called them resources who provide information about campus life and activities, advocates for diversity, builders of community, enforcers of policy, creative facilitators of programs, mail distributors and good listeners who are available to students on a regular basis.

Though the job is difficult, Smith said, it provides personal rewards and excellent opportunities for building skills and developing leadership qualities and interpersonal strengths.

Karen Hammer, RA for Russell D, summed it up, saying, "To be an RA you need to be a 'Jack-of-all-trades.' I'm a friend, counselor, information desk and even a mother-all at once!"

Derek Rieder, RA in Thompson, said he likes working in a freshman hall because he is "able to have a hand in helping students adjust from the high school to college atmosphere."

Colby Vandermyn, RA in Lane, said it's "a wonderful experience that lets you meet a lot of people you wouldn't normally meet. You develop friendships that you wouldn't expect."

Andi Mulholland, also in Lane, added, "I've learned a lot that is really going to be useful in life, skills like dealing with other people." *

-Beth Thomas
Photo by Robert Cohen