University of Tennessee Knoxville - Volunteer Yearbook (Knoxville, TN)

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Being a Resident Assistant tRAl is a difficult job. llThe main problem RAls face is trying to be a friend to the students on his floor and at the same time a discipli- narianfi according to East Area Coordin- ator Phil McCullough. ltRAis should es- tablish a comfortable relationship with students, yet keep a certain amount of re- spect? he said. ilYou develop a friendship with the stu- dents on your floor where you can just walk in and talk about the football game or whatever. But youire always apprehen- sive you might find alcohol around and have to write them upfi said RA Chris Pionke. After the first weeks of a new school year, discipline becomes less of a problem. llOnce a student breaks a rule and gets caught she learns respect for the rules, and me, and usually doesn,t do it againf, com- mented RA Laurie Risely. The role of dis- ciplinarian doesnit appeal to most RAis. Emphasis is placed on getting to know stu- dents. llThatis what its all about a help- ing people. Even with all the hassles, itis the most rewarding thing in lifefi Ms. Ri- sely added. RAis are required to attend training ses- sions in the spring and fall. George Barton, 28w8tudent Life West Area Coordinator, said, iiRA train- ing sessions involve instruction in commu- nication, the role of the RA, assertiveness, and programming, but the main guideline is just to know the residents well? Kathy Shorr reflected, llThe training was too abstract. A lot of theories were presented, but you donit learn about peo- ple. Interpretations of the rules changefl Indeed, different interpretations of the rules sometimes pressure a hallls staff. Ms. Shorr added, ilDifferent people interpret the rules different ways. There is a certain amount of peer pressure as to whats ex- pected of an RA and whats above and beyond duty? tlA lot of freshmen look to the RA for a role model. In this respect, you have to set an examplef, said Laurie Risely. RA Mar- cus Harton added, llPart of the job is the floor mother bit, but developing morals is not. For the most part, whatever morals a student has wonlt be Changed by me? Academically, a RA does not suffer any overall bad effects of the extra demands placed upon him. llI only know of one RA who quit because he said his grades were suffering, and I seriously doubt being a RA had anything to do with it, pointed out RA Jeff Gossage. llHaving a private 1 requirements of Title lX of the Education Arr 318; and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation

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make sure that people do their jobs. At the end of each day the housekeeper clocks out all of the employees. Whenever roommates clog the sink or break the lock on the door, UT students are glad there is a housekeeper downstairs coordinating the efforts of the mainten- ance workers. Page 26, bottom left and right: Maintenance of the bathrooms is just one of the many duties that housekeeping is responsible for. Page 27, top left: Heavy-duty maintenance equipment is stored in each dorm and dispatched under the direction of the housekeeper. Bottom: The housekeeper coordinates the duties of the mainn tenance men. Student Lifev27

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Want to be a room helps when you really get behindfi I stated RA John Berg. es i e n RAis survive, but most of the time not , without being iipennied iniI tthe hammer- ing of pennies into a door lock rendering the door unopenableI once or twice, or in ;? one unusual case, coming back to his room SS is a n and finding it void of furniture, pictures, carpet, and even his girlfriend. He eventu- ally found most of his possessions, but, alas, lost the girl. Lyn Fidao, Morrill Hall Head Resident, said, IIRAis are the single most important staff member in a hall. Their job is endless Icatiens may be picked up at the main desk of- any I , I e employee, student, leader, and friend. dence HaII area office or at the Department - : a Theyire the greatest? esidence Halls Room 405 Student Services BuiIding Page 28, top middle: Answering the phone is another RA task. Page 28, bottom left: Mark Brewer, RA in Morrill, finds time for a card game, a favorite pastime among residents. Page 29, bottom right: RAIs try to have time to help floor residents with problems, or just to chat, like Rob- ,W and beat thedeadline - I I y; I in Moore, RA in Morrill. quarter hours as of employment 5 GPA Iuarters in residence as of employment 49.07 per month tation: Contact any Residence t; inate on the p. orveteran amponment iicap in the Iuant to the 2. Pub. L.92- :. L. 93-112 respectiveiy. This policy extends to both em $ the University. Inquiries concerning Titie IX and Section Office of the Vice Chancellor for PlanningI HoltTower, 974-4391 Charges ofvioiationc w be directed to the Office of the Vice 6 Administration. i h w - , , . EKJ Student Lifevgg