Though residential college advisers have had mixed responses to the on-call system put into effect last September, a record 256 students have applied for RCA positions for the upcoming academic year. Last year 241 students applied, and 234 applied in 2008.
The University will continue to appoint 81 full RCAs despite the increase in applications, Associate Dean of Undergraduate Students Cole Crittenden GS ’05 said, signaling that this year’s decision to remove one RCA position from each college will remain in place. Each residential college will also select one to three assistant RCAs.
Many sophomores who applied said that they viewed the on-call system as a positive change and only a small consideration in their decision.
“The on-call system has its merits,” said Ogechi Oparah ’13, who is applying to be an RCA in Wilson College. “It definitely was something that I considered, but it didn’t stop me from applying at all.”
On Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings, and on several other designated days, two RCAs are required to walk through each residential college and check all halls, entryways, common spaces and bathrooms at 10 p.m. and midnight. One of them is designated as a primary RCA and must also remain in the college from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. with a cell phone.
A number of sophomores said the on-call system has contributed to the residential colleges’ sense of community.
“It didn’t really influence my decision to apply too much because the RCAs that I know seem like they’re having a good time when they patrol the hallways,” Zoe Masters ’13 said. “I could have fun doing that.”
Still, many current RCAs were reluctant to talk about their experiences with the new system. Nearly all of the 50 RCAs contacted for this article either declined to comment or did not respond to an interview request.
“No one I know will contend that the on-call system is perfect in its current state,” Alex Craig ’11, an RCA in Whitman College, said in an e-mail. “The RCAs understand that as the on-call program is currently in its pilot year, the administration needs time to work out the kinks.”
Crittenden and the six residential college directors of student life have already begun looking at possible improvements, Matthew Frawley, the director of student life for Mathey College, said in an e-mail. He explained that they are basing their assessment on the logs that the on-call RCAs keep during their patrols and on-call shifts.
Michael Olin, director of student life for Wilson, said in an e-mail that he and his colleagues will also consult RCAs as they consider any possible changes to the on-call system.
Craig said that students most often cite the timing of the rounds as an aspect of the system that should be reconsidered. Many RCAs think that the rounds could be more effective if they were timed at periods of the night when students are “more active,” Craig said.
“People are going to come back really drunk at 2:30,” said Kati Herrera ’11, an RCA in Wilson. “But how late do you [want to] have people patrolling? 3:00?”
Herrera explained, however, that most RCAs she knows consider being on call an opportunity to be more visible in the residential colleges and a bonding experience on weekend nights.
“I mean, maybe people are still really unhappy about it,” Herrera said.
“I think most of us have gotten over it and made it fun in our own ways,” she added.
She added that in her experience, RCAs have had to be on call five or six times per semester.
Of the 256 applicants, 174 were sophomores, and the remaining 82 were juniors, including current RCAs.
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