RA Movements Disrupt Dorm Residents
Guy Allen
Issue date: 3/8/10 Section: News
Due to inter-staff romantic involvements, resident assistants (RAs) from four different resident halls were asked to switch buildings over semester break.
REH's rule regarding this situation, which originated and was explained this past summer to the RAs during their training, aims to stop RAs from dating fellow RAs of the same staff or any of the residents they preside over.
Seven RAs were impacted by the rule this year, including Madeline/Lorraine and Bergstrom couple Zach Parmeter '11 and Carrie Roberts '12, Michels couple Doug Obermann '10 and Alicia Brinkman '10 and Burke couple Ryan Hurst '11 and Karen Henao-Carbonell '11.
"I didn't mind the move, just part of my job," said Jon Daun '10, the only non-romantic party involved in the move.
"The RA position is a different kind of job," Jessica Schmechel, director of residential education and judicial affairs, replied when inquired about the justification of the move. "They work where they live and the move is justified by the rule."
When asked if they agree with the rule, couple Hurst and Henao-Carbonell had this to say: "Nobody likes to move and be taken out of their community in the middle of the year that they worked so hard for."
The overwhelming sense from everyone interviewed was that the movements had the largest influence on the residents. Over a semester, RAs get to know their residents and residents get to know their RAs, building community. A change in the middle of the year is a major adjustment for both the RAs and their residents.
One of the residents affected was Marcus Wendricks '13, a resident in Burke, who had some strong feelings.
"Ryan Hurst was more than a residential assistant to me. He was a mentor, an inspiration and a beacon of light to guide me…he helped and supported me whenever he could, always eager to help."
"We will miss The Hurst greatly, but our new RA Jon has the same compassion and has been great so far," said Eric Sallmann '13, another Burke resident.
For the future, the resident hall administration plans to present the rule more explicitly during summer training.
For those like Hurst, Daun, Hanao and the others, this is a job they love, but a rule is a rule. There will always be more years, more residents and more memories.
REH's rule regarding this situation, which originated and was explained this past summer to the RAs during their training, aims to stop RAs from dating fellow RAs of the same staff or any of the residents they preside over.
Seven RAs were impacted by the rule this year, including Madeline/Lorraine and Bergstrom couple Zach Parmeter '11 and Carrie Roberts '12, Michels couple Doug Obermann '10 and Alicia Brinkman '10 and Burke couple Ryan Hurst '11 and Karen Henao-Carbonell '11.
"I didn't mind the move, just part of my job," said Jon Daun '10, the only non-romantic party involved in the move.
"The RA position is a different kind of job," Jessica Schmechel, director of residential education and judicial affairs, replied when inquired about the justification of the move. "They work where they live and the move is justified by the rule."
When asked if they agree with the rule, couple Hurst and Henao-Carbonell had this to say: "Nobody likes to move and be taken out of their community in the middle of the year that they worked so hard for."
The overwhelming sense from everyone interviewed was that the movements had the largest influence on the residents. Over a semester, RAs get to know their residents and residents get to know their RAs, building community. A change in the middle of the year is a major adjustment for both the RAs and their residents.
One of the residents affected was Marcus Wendricks '13, a resident in Burke, who had some strong feelings.
"Ryan Hurst was more than a residential assistant to me. He was a mentor, an inspiration and a beacon of light to guide me…he helped and supported me whenever he could, always eager to help."
"We will miss The Hurst greatly, but our new RA Jon has the same compassion and has been great so far," said Eric Sallmann '13, another Burke resident.
For the future, the resident hall administration plans to present the rule more explicitly during summer training.
For those like Hurst, Daun, Hanao and the others, this is a job they love, but a rule is a rule. There will always be more years, more residents and more memories.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
John
posted 3/24/10 @ 12:37 AM CST
It's unfortunate that it appears the decision to move the RAs were done so with blinders on. Odd if you ask me.
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