Howard University - Bison Yearbook (Washington, DC)

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I i el ping Students JLJL elp Themselves The Resident Assistant (R A) is a student member of the residence hall staff who works with the graduate assistants and dorm counselors to make dorm life both educational and enjoyable for students. These student leaders are selected on the basis of leadership ability, experience in dealing with others, academics, extracurricular involvement and sincerity toward helping others. Each spring semester applications are reviewed by the RA selection committee. This committee is headed by Mr. James Coleman, assistant to the dean of Residence Life for special programs. At this time, interviews are scheduled for prospective candidates. A panel of dorm counselors interviews the candidates, and during the summer final selections are made. One week before orientation of new entrants. the RAs must return to school for counseling workshops. At these workshops the new Resident Assistant learns about the different on-campus services available to students and about responsibilities as a student counselor. Although duties vary from dorm to dorm, generally Resident Assistants are required to counsel students, plan programs, and attend monthly workshops to improve counseling skills and assist the dorm counselor in running the dorm efficiently. In one day an RA may do several lockouts (let a locked-out resident into his room), work one or two hours in the dorm office, attend a workshop, conduct a program. work at the main lobby desk, counsel residents, or just be there' when a resident needs him or her. Because this position entails so much commitment, a Resident Assistant must be able to juggle studies, social life, and extracurricular activities in order to maintain the 2.5 grade-point average required for the position and still enjoy the social aspects of school. In return for their dedication. RAs receive monthly stipends, but most Resident Assistants agree that far more important is the satisfaction of knowing that they are helping fellow students to enjoy dorm life and school in general. Whatever dorms RAs live in, they exemplify the theme of the 1983 Summer Workshop — The capacity to care is the thing which gives life its deepest significance — every day that they work in the dorm. By Debbie-Anne Thompson CERTIFICATE CHECK. Resdont Ass-stant Paulette Murphy performs one of the many tasks of an R A as she checks the certificate of Annette Franklin. 18

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WHAT DID YOU SAY? Tarah Hargo. a senior in the School of Communcations looks at her friend m disbelief, as she shares a little bit of news with her. —'w •CffcrrouLOOK AT that. Ed Turner and a fellow business student take a little time out to talk as they hike back to mam campus from the School of Business

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EARNING HER PAY RA Verleon Grant Keeps busy at the front desk of Meridian. A RA S JOB IS NEVER DONE Natalie Bell shows that an R.A must also be creative in the r dorms. KEYS. KEYS. AND MORE KEYS. RA Debbie -Ann Thompson has to keep up with a multitude of keys m order to perform he' 10b.