Even though I myself am an RA, or Residence Assistant, I thought it would be less biased to get the perspective of being a Student Leader Staff member (SLS) from another RA. The day of an RA can look just like any other student’s: going to classes, attending meetings, and trying to make time for friends and homework. But there is a distinction between the role of an RA and the average student, and what is expected of them because of the position they hold. There are three different positions one can apply for under SLS:
1. FYRA (First Year Residence Assistant)
2. CRA (Community Resource Assistant)
3. CRA’s of UOHA (University Owned Housing Apartments)
Her Campus: What’s the difference between these three positions?
MOLLY WEBSTER: The main difference is between the FYRA versus the other two positions. FYRA’s are in the first year residence halls, living with the freshmen and helping acclimate them to life on DePauw’s campus. They also connect them to resources while also trying to build community. A CRA either lives in upper classmen dorms or in UOHA. CRAs are the RAs of upper classmen, who have most likely found their community already so they try to build community within their dorms or apartments, but also encourage their residents to be connected with the resources DePauw has to offer.
HC: Can you apply for any position your first time?
MW: Not typically, no. The first time you apply, if you get the job you will most likely be a FYRA. After working for a year, you can apply to be any of the three positions.
HC: Which position, in your opinion, is the hardest? Why?
MW: It just depends on your residents, I think. It also depends on how proactive you are with problems that might occur in your community. Sometimes I’d say FYRA’s have it a little bit harder because they have freshmen, and they typically are more of a handful when they first come to campus, as opposed to upperclassmen that know what to expect and how to act. You should treat all your residents the same, but freshmen do require a little more time and attention, simply because college life is very new to them.
HC: What does being “on duty” mean?
MW: When you are on duty, there is a primary and a secondary. Both get duty binders containing keys and lock out sheets. The keys open the doors to most residence halls and the lock out sheets keep track of how many times a student has been locked out so the office knows how much to charge them. If someone gets locked out when the CLCD office is closed, they call Public Safety who then calls the primary on duty. If students are locked out during the week before 4 PM, they have to go to Anderson and get a spare key. We recommend not losing them though, because this year the keys cost $75 to replace.
HC: What was your worst experience as an RA?
MW: During Recruitment. It is difficult to see your friends/ residents go through recruitment and not get the house they want. It’s a tough time for a lot of people and that’s when a lot of different problems can come up. A few of my RA friends had to deal with suicide attempts and/or sexual harassment cases, so depending how the residents are will determine how an RA’s experience goes.
HC: What are the benefits and downfalls of being an RA, in your opinion?
MW: There are plenty of benefits, I love the people I work with and I feel involved on campus because of my position. The only downfall I can think of is when you have a lockout late at night, especially during the winter. There’s also the benefit of having financial help when it comes to the cost of your room because it’s so expensive. But definitely those 3-4 AM lockouts between November and February are brutal, especially when the location is across campus.
HC: What does the application process look like for people who are interested in being an SLS member?
MW: Typically, you get an application from Anderson and fill it out along with two recommendation letters from an RA, supervisor, or other DePauw staff who knows you well. Then the office will set up a time for you to go through 3 interviews and those among other things pretty much determine who makes the final cut. There’s also such a limited space on staff because so many people apply and probably less than half can get the position. They look at more than just your application and your personality though; there’s a lot that comes into play.
If anyone is interested in playing this role on campus, it’s good to keep these things in mind and to know what you’re in for before you apply. At the end of the day, all these positions pertain to students’ safety at DePauw, and all of these people are trained to be resources and helping hands for all students throughout their college career.