Lack of program attendance challenging for RAs

Every semester each Resident Adviser in every resident hall puts on at least five programs. While the programs cover a wide variety of topics, some are more memorable than others for residents and the RAs.

"Once we painted pumpkins for Halloween and, after awhile, all the pumpkins rotted," said senior Monica Massey, an RA. "It was funny and smelled really bad."

There are many challenges that come with putting on programs for residents. Sophomore Michelle Curtis, an RA in Hanson Hall, said, "The only challenges that come with putting on a program are getting the money for the stuff you are going to buy, making the publicity stuff and getting all of the information you need to do the program."

She said she once did a program on smoking where she had to look up resources.

"I usually put about an hour or so into putting together my program and going through with it," Curtis said. "It's hard to think of successful program ideas. But, don't let any RA fool you; we enjoy doing the programs because that means movies and food and prizes for us, too."

Each RA puts on three programs that deal with the community. These programs are a chance for residents to get out of their rooms and meet other residents that live in their resident hall.

"A community program can really consist of anything, from watching a movie to have a pingpong tournament," Curtis said.

The other two programs that come from a specialty category that the RA chose at the beginning of the year. These categories are academics, personal growth and multicultural.

The RAs also must have one program each semester that a faculty member attends.

"The purpose of that is to introduce faculty members to the students so that they don't think professors are scary people," Curtis said. Some RAs said it can be difficult for them to get residents to attend programs.

"I have had a minimum of five people at a program to about 62 people," Curtis said. "It is all based on the content of the program, the publicity for the program and, of course, food and prizes usually work the best."

Massey said, "I've had between five and 20 people attend my programs. The hardest part about getting people to come is finding a time that works for the maximum amount of residents."

While planning programs that are interesting and different that will attract residents can be difficult, RAs can receive help from an Office of Resident Life Program Adviser.

"Program Advisers assist RAs with the brainstorming, planning and advertising of programs in anyway possible," said senior Pierce Bello, a Program Adviser for First Year Involvement. "Each PA is assigned to four to five residence halls, in which we provide individualized assistance and help RAs assess the needs of their residents in order that they provide programming that will help residents learn, change and grow."

The purpose of RA programs is to help students learn outside of the classroom, expose students to a wide variety of ideas and experiences.

"In a nutshell, we do programs to meet resident needs in all of the above elements of the college experience," Bello said. "We do programs to help our residents learn, change and grow."

Sophomore Missy Lann said she only has been to one program this year because she has been busy with other activities.

"But the one I went to was fun; we tie-dyed T-shirts outside during first semester," she said.

Sophomore Tiffany Weaver said, "Typically I do not go to the RA programs because the hours they have them I am normally trying to get work done or I have other obligations."