Training class prepares Resident Assitants
for adverse situations in dorms, apartments

by Scott Bean
BEA02009@BYUI.EDU
Scroll Staff

Kensington Apartments Resident Assistant, Christine Schindler, a sophomore from San Diego, Calif., checks in on Loleen Winter, a junior from Sheridian, Wyo.; and Junanita Ware, a freshman from Okinawa, Japan. EMILY WARR / Scroll

“The on-campus RAs are required to take the class, along with first-year head residents. It is an on-going training class through the semester where we discuss a number of topics and bring in guests to teach and inform,” Sharon Tuckett, student leadership instructor, said.

Some of the topics covered are conflict resolution, communication, time management, Honor Code issues, suicide, drugs, student development, stress, pornography and same-sex attraction.

“We learn how to handle different types of problems and are educated on different things that have occurred and could possibly occur,” Ashlee Hoppes, a sophomore from Petaluma, Calif., and Chapman Hall RA, said. “We normally handle issues like depression, anxiety, suicide and stress. We are required to write two-page papers on what we have learned and how it is applied to my job, and we have to teach it to at least one person.”

The class also encourages RAs to apply their knowledge at work.

“I try to apply what I learn as much as possible even though I haven’t had a lot of situations to handle. The on-campus and off-campus RAs have different situations that occur, so it’s good to hear their experiences. Everything we talk about has happened, or does happen, so it helps,” Hoppes said.

This class is also useful to RAs because they share experiences with one another.

“It’s a wonderful arena to discuss challenges. It’s open with different opinions from both on-campus and off-campus RAs. Everyone in the class needs to understand [the different situations] so they can handle them when the time comes,” Tuckett said.

Even though RAs of different complexes experience different situations and are faced with different environments, they are all considered equal, Tuckett said.

“I see everyone as equals in the class; there is no separation between on-campus and off-campus RAs. They are all self-starters, think clearly and have good heads on their shoulders. It’s a good group of young people,” she said.

Besides taking a class, RAs have other duties beside handling dorm or apartment difficulties.

“As RAs we need to be leaders of other students and examples also. On-campus RAs are on-call the whole time. I don’t have any complaints about my job, but sometimes it’s hard. The head resident gives us things to do; if she has an assignment for us, we do it. She is our leader and tells us how things need to be done,” Cody Hawes, a sophomore from Hermiston, Ore., and Biddulph First North RA, said.

RAs also work in their hall offices, do weekly clean checks and make sure all the rules and Honor Code policies are followed. Their housing is paid for, and they receive approximately $150 every two weeks, depending on the complex.