ResLife Update: Approx. 24 % Vacancy
You might remember the RA Compensation cut, and the subsequent student demonstration. We sure do, and we were wondering what the latest news is regarding the Residence Life Staff. Then, we received an email which was sent to all juniors, seniors, and transfer students in an effort to recruit more staff members for the coming year. That’s unusual. What prompted it?
We talked to a member of the student staff, who filled us in on the scoop. It turns out that there are approximately 18 vacancies on the staff of 74 RA’s. That adds up to a 24% vacancy on staff!
In the opinion of this author, this is a disgrace to the students living on campus for the coming year. Dr. Knowles (VP for Student Life) stated at the town hall meeting that he wanted to relieve the RA’s of some of their duties because he felt that they had too much responsibility. How does he solve the issue? By directly causing a short-handed staff — he gave the directive that sophomores could not be RA’s.
What best interest is in mind when a Vice President causes such a deficiency? If the students are a top priority, then there is only one way to solve this issue: hire the qualified sophomores who were turned down.
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And perhaps while they are at it, admit their mistake by giving all members of the ResLife staff the old compensation package?
Ha, that will be the day.
I don’t understand this. What is stopping them from simply hiring the sophomores they turned down? They seem to be avoiding them like they have swine flu or something; it defies all logic.
Let it be known! All sophomores have Swine Flu!
It probably goes without saying that this makes no sense. If ResLife hired rising Sophomores for this coming school year, by the time both Freshmen and Sophomores are required to live on campus, these RAs will already have a year of experience under their belt. Instead, they’ll sit out for a year, and then *maybe* try again next year. We’re not only keeping potential RAs from getting experience that will benefit ResLife in the future, but we’re discouraging perfectly qualified students from applying for the job ever again. RPI ResLife prides itself in their student staff members and their high levels of experience and training…why turn away those who will be most beneficial to the program?