Howard University - Bison Yearbook (Washington, DC)

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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.

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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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Just Like Home Waiting to see if one has obtained a dormitory room or been placed as number two hundred on the list is part of the reality and uncertainty of obtaining housing through the lottery system. As student population grows every year, this system tries to efficiently assign scarce housing to numerous students. But often students who did not receive a room in the residential dormitories are faced with two choices: not attending school that semester or finding off-campus housing. Many students live in apartments or houses by choice — for the benefits that cannot be found in a dormitory. In one's own apartment, room in a private house or condominium. the student can enjoy privacy, freedom from dorm rules and other comforts of home. Melody Watts, a finance major from Atlanta, says in my own apartment I have more privacy and more time to do things on my own — in my own space. As is to be expected, living off campus sometimes results in problems in choice of housing. Students normally try to find a home with such conve- niences as modern kitchen appliances, carpeting, a fireplace and good laundry facilities. Students have to pay hefty rents each month and sometimes run up enormous utility bills. The non-driving commuter who lives far from campus must also get up early to take the bus or subway to school and stay on campus until classes are finished. For the car owner, the situation is not much better; with limited parking available on campus, the driver has to arise early to find legitimate parking or risk having the automobile towed. Off-campus living does have its advantages and. according to Angela Lewis, a sophomore from St. Louis. My apartment may be small and it may not have everything, but it is my ov n space and I love it: Whether the student lives off campus by necessity or choice, apartment dwellers generally agree that the benefits of these abodes greatly outweigh the costs. To many of these students, their own private nook is almost as good as ' home sweet home:' By Debbie-Anne Thompson IN THE GROOVE Eidridg© Ryans, a student in the School of Engineering enjoys the Ireedom of playing music without the threat of disturbing anyone m a dorm. 20