So you want to be an RA next year? Welcome to the club - over 125 freshmen, sophomores, and juniors are competing for next year's spots. The applications for the ever-popular position of Residential Assistant for the 2002-2003 academic year were due last week, and this year the Residential Life office received a record number of applications. Prospective RAs will be waiting a while before they are told whether or not they have been hired.
Tufts Resident Assistants face a demanding job - they're required to do more than "be there" for the students on their hall. In addition to helping students schedule classes and providing personal advice, RAs must be "on duty" at least one night a week in case of an emergency, perform occasional dorm room checks to ensure that students do not have illegal substances, and plan programs and social events for their halls.
Has your RA encouraged Hall Snacks, started an inter-dorm game of Assassins, or set up a class-scheduling workshop? If not, maybe your RA isn't taking his job seriously enough.
With all of the responsibility, why do students want to be RAs? Many students apply for the perks. Being a Resident Assistant is a leadership position worthy of mention on any r?©sum?©. In addition, the University provides RAs with free housing, subsidizes their meal plans, and completely covers their local phone service. Some students become RAs to avoid the problems associated with the University's housing crunch.
The subsidized meal-plan and free housing attracted freshman Mike Ferenchick to apply to be a RA for next year. "Money is clearly of interest when deciding to be an RA. Anyone who tells you that is a bad motivator for being an RA is wrong," Ferenchick said.
But in addition to the financial motivation, Ferenchick says that he would enjoy the responsibility of guiding other students. "I could see myself playing sports with the kids in my hall, perhaps ping pong and football," he said.
Many students look past the tangible perks of being a RA and see it as an opportunity to have a good time, help students feel at home at school, and create friendships.
"Sure, the incentives aren't bad, but actually the reason that I want to be an RA is that it looks like a lot of fun, really enjoyable," freshman John Dulac said.
Freshman Liz Goergen applied to be a RA because she saw it as a way to continue the peer counseling and leadership activities she participated in throughout high school.
"Since I love talking and getting to meet people anyway, I figured that being an RA is a great way to get paid for doing what I like to do," Goergen said.
As a prospective RA, Goergen hopes to help foster friendships between hallmates with stress relief activities like making crafts.
"Nothing too demanding, difficult, or educational... just amusing, and a different way to spend time hanging out with people on the hall," Goergen said of her future RA activities.
Zach Baker considers RAs important to the dorm experience. "I am applying to be an RA because I want to be able to help people and form a strong bond in my hall. I feel that living in a dorm is one of the most important experiences at Tufts, and I want to make it the best experience for everyone in the hall," he explained.
Assistant Director of Residential Life Lorraine Toppi attributes the high number of applications received by Res Life for next year to the current RA staff.
"We have an amazing pool of candidates," Toppi said. "We received over 125 applications, the highest number in quite a few years. [The current RA staff] is an extremely talented and caring group this year, and it must show to have so many of their residents want to emulate them."
Junior Mike Coughlin, a current RA, says that it is one of the best jobs he has ever had in his life.
"It's extremely fulfilling and the rewards, meaning the free room, phone service and dining plan discount are great," Coughlin said. "In addition, I enjoy living in the dorms, and I don't feel detached from the campus like I would if I lived off campus. My classes are far enough as they are!"
Prospective Residential Assistants may be wondering about a RA's job description. RAs are required to arrive early to campus to receive mandatory training. RAs must also stay on campus until the end of finals week and through some of graduation at the end of the year.
According to junior RA Jeff Malbasa the obligations of being a RA are not too tedious. "The RA commitment is not an overwhelming one. I feel a little bogged down since I work a decent amount at another job, but I do not feel overwhelmed by my obligations."
The main obligations of being a RA, according to junior RA Jeff Malbasa, are to
be a resource for hall mates and to maintain a safe, happy community on the floor and in the building.
"I really believe being a good RA is all about being able to recognize that the most important thing is respect. No matter what the problem, respect is at the heart of it, and that as long as people respect each other, there aren't that many problems," Malbasa said. "As long as I am there for my residents to answer questions and the floor and building are being inhabited in a respectful manner, than I really do feel that I have fulfilled my obligations."
But taking on the responsibility of being an RA is not all fun and games. They must ensure that their hall has a clean and safe living environment, and also must reprimand students who break University rules, and report them to the Tufts Police if necessary. Tales of drunken debauchery and roommate conflicts may seem funny, but RAs are often the ones who have to resolve students' problems.
"Once a kid threw a couch off of the Hodgdon balcony and was shocked when he got caught, Malbasa said. "That kinda cracked me up."
