Too many roles, too little time

I half expected my conversation with one of the resident
assistants of De Neve Plaza to take place inside a dark downtown
bar. I would apprehensively walk across a floor of broken peanut
shells before spotting a hooded figure wearing sunglasses at the
far corner booth.

This RA from De Neve, who requested anonymity out of fear of
losing his job, has some beef with the potential changes in store
for residential life in the dorms. Traditionally, the model of
having one RA and one program assistant on each floor has been the
norm. Now plans are headed toward the elimination of PAs altogether
in favor of having two RAs per floor instead.

This RA and I agree that this change would cause life on the
Hill to go downhill. In fact, he thinks this plan is stupid.

Alas, life does not imitate art and my covert interview instead
took place on the messy dorm floor of an obviously overworked RA.
He currently does not have a PA, which means that on top of his
coursework and RA duties, he also has to plan about four programs
each quarter. And while planning programs is not the most difficult
task, it does require time and organization.

“Mostly, I feel sorry for my residents because I just
don’t have the time to plan the kind of programs that would
be memorable,” he said.

A slew of responsibilities go along with planning programs.
After a program idea has been approved, tasks such as making
posters, motivating residents, and arranging for transportation
take chunks of time out of a busy student’s life. The
PA’s job requires effort and thoughtfulness; it is better
accomplished when not inhibited by the dual responsibility of being
an RA.

But the new plan would provide two RAs to share the work, so
doesn’t that solve the problem?

According to the RA, having a partner may lighten the workload,
but it also opens up a can of worms. For instance, a key reason for
having an RA and a PA is that they are two entirely different
positions. As simple as that may sound, it’s a factor that
should be weighed heavily before eliminating PAs.

The RA asked me to think about my relationships with my former
RAs and PAs. As soon as I did, it became clear to me just why there
was a separation between the two jobs. I remembered my PAs with a
great deal of camaraderie; in fact, one remains a close friend to
this day. As for my RAs, I could barely remember their names.

Basically an RA is supposed to be an authority figure. As my
source put it, “You can’t go out drinking with your
residents and then write them up!”

On the other hand, going out with residents would not
necessarily conflict with a PA’s duties. In fact, bonding
with floormates would only add to the quality of programs. PAs
would understand their residents as friends and could better plan
according to their personalities and interests.

Of course, RAs could become friends with their residents, but
there is always going to be that line that shouldn’t be
crossed for the sake of professionalism.

Fourth-year chemical engineering student Mavrick Goodrich is an
RA in Hedrick Hall who is already working under the two RA system.
In terms of how he maintains relationships with his residents, he
says, “You’re more guarded as an RA because
you’re supposed to be fulfilling a certain role.”

With two RAs, a good cop, bad cop scenario would be likely to
ensue as well. Especially with the dual responsibility of being
both an RA and a PA, a united front is difficult to achieve.

Besides, there’s not much wrong with the old model
anyway.

Fourth-year psychobiology major Amy Wong is an RA who is working
under the traditional model. Barely a minute into our conversation,
it becomes obvious just how much she is enjoying her experience
with the rest of her floormates on Rieber 2 North.

Bubbly and sociable, she reminded me of the ever-excited camp
counselor. Earnestly she told me, “My floor, they make my
heart smile!”

Truly, Wong and her PA have created an ideal floor atmosphere.
One of their residents, first-year physiological science student
Alejandra Cerros, said, “I’ve had so many good times,
all of which have become memorable.”

Wong attributes part of the success to knowing what her role is
as an RA and establishing relationships with her floormates
accordingly. She said, “Many of my residents see me as an
older sister.”

I tried to contact the Office of Residential Life to find out
why PAs are being phased out, but it never responded. According to
the RAs I spoke with, the primary objective of the change is to
lower the amount of residents assigned to each RA so that more
individual attention may be given.

While this is a well-intentioned goal, the consequences of
eliminating PAs from the dorms need to be considered. Another RA on
the floor may increase the amount of time spent with each resident,
but it doesn’t compensate for an absent PA.

The roles of RA and PA are much better fulfilled when they are
separate. Maintaining the presence of both on each floor would
certainly keep life on the Hill more colorful.

Tao’s column runs every other Tuesday. If you were
Tao’s RA, please e-mail her at atao@media.ucla.edu. Send
general comments to viewpoint@media.ucla.edu.

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