Resident assistants take on great responsibilities

Everyone knows that a resident assistant, or an RA, is an important person in on-campus housing.

RAs are peers who serve and supervise residents on their floor. But RAs have other duties that residents never see.

Rob Phipps, a finance junior, is an RA in Wentz Hall. Phipps was able to explain the job of an RA in a way that could be different from what the residents see.

"We have duties like rounds, but we also program," Phipps said.

"Programming" describes the different events that RAs put on solely for the benefit of the resident, Phipps said. There is a six-pillar model RAs are required to follow, and each program has one of the pillars in it. Examples of the pillars are academic excellence, leadership, finding your purpose, and broadening your horizons.

Phipps also said that all RAs have to take a class before they become certified.

"It might have changed, but when I took the class the focus was counseling," Phipps said.

The class is a required 2-hour course that trains RAs how to deal with different situations.

Summer Fleet, an elementary education freshman, is a Drummond resident. When asked about her opinions on her RA, Fleet said that the floor she lives on is always doing something.

"I know that my RA plans a lot," Fleet said. "I feel like our floor is one of the most involved because we always have something going on, whether it is a craft night, a movie night or just hanging out in the lounge."

Fleet also said she thinks it is fair to say that being a RA would be like having a part-time job.

"I think being an RA is a full time job," said ReShicka Hawkins, a communication science and disorders sophomore, and an RA in Zink Hall. " We are taught in training to always have your RA face on, which means that I have to be available for my residents any time of day or night."

Hawkins said the main objective of being a RA is to have an open-door policy with the residents. If a resident is having roommate trouble, or trouble with life in general, the RA is supposed to always be there for the resident, no matter what.

Hawkins also said when there is an incident, like a party getting busted on the floor, the RA has to fill out an incident report, which can be time consuming.

"The report cannot be something that we just throw together," Hawkins said. "The report has to be professional because if it's something serious, like drugs or alcohol, the report could be used as evidence in a courtroom."

Even with the behind-the-scenes work, Phipps and Hawkins said their job is rewarding.