Resident Assistants    Resident Assistants    Resident Assistants

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     The idea of paying less for housing, meeting tons of new people, and always having a booked social calendar may be all the incentive a student needs to apply for a resident advisor position. However, experienced RAs can tell you that along with the job perks come obstacles that stretch their problem-solving powers.

Role of an RA
     Some may think a resident advisor only pins posters on bulletin boards and monitors music volume in the hall. However, this 24-hour position requires a tad bit more skill. In fact, at Rollins College, an RA plays several roles: an administrator, counselor, limit-setter, programmer, and a resource person.
     Along with these varied responsibilities, RAs often have to balance the sometimes-conflicting roles of dorm patrol and confidante for residents. Terry Weech of Nova Southeastern University was faced with the difficult decision of whether to be a pal or to enforce housing rules when he visited a resident friend who was violating the "no-candle" policy. Fortunately, NSU prepares RAs with training on resident and RA relationships. To treat all students fairly and consistently, Weech suggests telling on-campus tenants immediately that you’ll enforce rules regardless of friendships and will report infractions to a resident life higher-up when necessary. To combine the leadership role with friendship, Weech, who also is area director, says, "When residents are dealing with a sensitive situation, give them a pat on the back, and make sure there are social programs to form connectiveness." NSU’s RAs also meet weekly to give each other support, and discuss which programs are successful or may need improvement.

Cafeteria Food
     At schools such as Northwood University, required meal plans and the lack of on-campus food options become serious issues for advisors and their residents. "The biggest problem is the quality of our cafeteria food," says Wilson Enriquez. "With the exception of a few items on the menu, the food selection is horrible."
     Institutions that alternate between mystery-meat burgers and shepherd’s pie may want to take a few pointers from the University of Central Florida, which provides students with 13 eating venues that range from cafeteria style to subs to Pizza Hut. Also changing the face of on-campus dining is the University of Miami. This year, the Hurricanes welcome the Café Ortega nacho bar, Taco Bell, and rotisserie chicken. Tejal Patel, UM’s dining services marketing manager, says students dealing with poor food quality should form a Dining Services Advisory Board in conjunction with student government. "The advisory board is very helpful, because it allows students to share concerns and solutions," Patel says. UM’s student government invites volunteers including on-campus residents and commuters to join the board and provide input. Along with the advisory board, UM uses comment cards located at entrances and personal meal plans for nontraditional students such as lunch-only options.

Cramped Co-eds:
     "Overcrowded resident halls is of major concern," says Jesus Aviles, Jr. of Barry University. "As the university expands, so does the number of students. As Barry prepares its new residential housing plans, more students are being accepted for university housing as never before seen. As a member of the universities housing department, special training is being administered to better equip staff for possible concerns."
     At the University of Florida this fall, new students briefly were housed in dorm lounges, according to Jonathan Zerulik, UF’s Inter-Residence Hall Association business manager. Although UF plans to open new facilities in fall 2000, for now, extra residents are assigned to temporary triples. To help three become company, UF housing staff sends enrollees tips on how to deal with the crammed quarters prior to their move in. "Some students make the best of the situation by getting creative doing things like building a ‘second-story loft’—a wide shelf around the room which they furnish with sofas, televisions, and more," Zerulik says. As UF grows, however, students may have an even slimmer chance of enjoying a room of their own. "Per the campus master plan, our goal is to house 20 to 25 percent of the total enrollment on campus," says Sharon Blansett, assistant director of housing.
     In Miami, Florida International University’s students and administrators are setting an example of how to handle overcrowding situations. FIU got funding for a $7.8 million facility with 500 beds for North Campus students by bringing its housing needs to the attention of the Board of Regents. "You’re not telling administrators something they don’t already know," says Larry Lunsford, associate dean of student life. "So make sure you have ideas on successful solutions." If obstacles such as a lack of available land confront a school, Lunsford suggests researching these viable alternatives: have residence life buy and manage a nearby apartment complex, rent floors from a local hotel, or build on land in the community.
     FIU’s Resident Students Task Force includes students and key administrators from all campus offices such as financial aid. Lunsford says the task force is successful because the team proactively addresses matters such as longer cafeteria hours and activities for on-campus students that will affect residential life in two years.
     Cooperating with another local school created a win-win situation for Palm Beach Community College, according to James Brock, student housing director. After losing $2.7 million in six years on Panther Park, a college-owned student apartment complex, PBCC made a $300,000 deal with nearby Palm Beach Atlantic College to rent out Panther Park’s vacant rooms. With an enrollment increase from 1,600 to 2,100 in eight years, PBAC outgrew its on-campus living facilities, according to Buck Jones, dean of enrollment services. The college plans to lease 134 of Panther Park’s 640 rooms, helping PBCC get out of the red. Palm Beach Atlantic will provide transportation for residents to its campus eight miles away.

What’s the best way you’ve found to motivate others and fight apathy?
     Use incentives and rewards. "When we have campus events that involve sports or competitions, I remind them that they can win shirts that indicate that they have won that tournament, and then kind of get their adrenaline going by reminding them that they can be known as the best at Northwood!"
—Wilson Enriquez, Northwood University, mirta@aol.com
     Focus on the individual. "I did my best to get to know each student’s likes and dislikes. I was able to encourage the students to get out of their rooms."
—David Betsch, University of West Florida, dbetsch@uwf.edu
     Practice what you preach. "Through example. Often, showing my own enthusiasm energizes and inspires others. If not, I try explaining the benefits of an idea."
—Gerard Grauballe, Florida Institute of Technology, grauball@fit.edu
     Make residents feel important. "Encourage them. It’s nice to give hugs and praise to someone for the good work they are doing."
—Michelle Martin, Florida International University, mnmartin@hotmail.com

Describe the most effective peer-education program or awareness campaign your group has sponsored recently.
     "The Matthew Sheperd Vigil raised awareness of the Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual, and Transgender community. It also showed how important it is to include sexual orientation in the non-discrimination clause in the State University System."
—Kamala Kiem, Florida International University, kckiem@aol.com

     "The Office of Residential Life and Student Services is responsible for the university’s Alcohol Education Program. In recent years, the university’s TV station and radio station have spent added time communicating the facts of alcohol and alcohol abuse."
—Jesus Aviles, Jr., Barry University, javiles2@cwix.com

     ‘Seasons Greetings.’ An opportunity for a group of RAs to educate about the different holiday seasons celebrated in December and January. Students of different cultures shared their customs with students of other cultures."
—Wilbern Simpson, Stetson University

     "Victim’s Advocate Program did a program called ‘I’m Stalking You.’ It informed the residents about rape, sexual battery, assault, and stalkers."
—Trenika Philyor, Florida State University

Back                                Continued

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