Record number seek RA, MAA positions

The University's five residential colleges recently selected 102 sophomores and juniors out of a record 194 applicants to serve as advisers for the 2004-05 academic year, according to a press release from the Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Students.

"It was an extremely strong list of applicants, which is great, but also tough, because there were many applicants who could have easily taken the position, but there just wasn't enough space," Rockefeller College administrator Pat Heslin said.

The advisers offer support and guidance to students within their residential college and provide a link between firstand second-year students and University organizations and administrators. In Butler, Forbes, Mathey and Rocky Colleges, residential and minority affairs advisers serve as resources for students, while in Wilson College, both roles are incorporated in the resident community adviser position.

Rocky conducted 36 interviews for new RA and MAA candidates, from which seven full RAs, three full MAAs, two alternate RAs and one alternate MAA were chosen, Heslin said. Six full RAs and two full MAAs also returned. "We were fortunate that we had a lot of students returning," Heslin said. "We had a terrific core group this year."

In November, all new adviser candidates submitted an application and two written recommendations to the Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Students. Full RAs, MAAs and RCAs receive free room within their residential college, as well as 10 meals per week and a waived residential college fee. Alternate advisers are reimbursed one quarter the cost of their rooms and also receive 10 meals per week and a waived college fee, Heslin said.

Tisa Sherry '05, who served as an RCA in Wilson College this year, decided to return to the position next year. "I wanted to be an RCA in the first place because I thought it would be a lot of fun and I wanted to be in a position to help people having difficulties," she said. "I want to be an RCA again because I've just had a great experience. I had a wonderful group."

To be a successful adviser, students must be prepared to deal with potentially difficult situations, Mathey College master Antoine Kahn said.

"We were looking for people who seemed best prepared to fulfill the various roles of RAs and MAAs," he said. "In the interviews, we asked how the candidates would react to scenarios like alcohol problems, roommate disputes and psychological problems."

Heslin added that the best RAs "know instinctually how to react in situations, and how to negotiate resolutions to problems."

Charlotte Weiskittel '06 said she wanted to be an adviser in Rocky to provide an accessible resource to the freshmen and sophomores. "We have such a huge network of people to go to here, that it can actually be daunting," she said. "RAs are a good, condensed source to go to."

"I'm all about the study breaks," she added. "My 'zees will definitely be the most well-fed."

Weiskittel said one concern she had about becoming an RA was the possible isolation from her peers. "In terms of location, I may be isolated from the rest of my class," she said. "But that's part of the reason I joined an eating club. I know I'll see people there, so I won't be isolated."

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Both Sherry and Weiskittel plan to make a point of supporting their sophomore advisees. "Sophomores are for the most part settled, and freshmen definitely need more help, but I think I can still reach out to sophomores more," Sherry said.