By Melanie J. Knox, Opinion Editor
Meetings for students interested in becoming resident assistants and spiritual life assistants will take place Feb. 11 at noon and Feb. 13 at 6 p.m. in the Hilton Room.
Mimi Barnard, director of residence life education and housing, said the purpose of the meeting will be to “communicate information regarding vision, responsibilities, etc.”
Barnard will speak at the meetings, along with Mark Lewis, director of spiritual life and student ministries, who will speak about the SLA program. Current Residence Directors, RA’s and SLA’s will be there as well to answer questions.
For those interested in an RA or SLA position, at least one of these meetings is required.
Jake Sledge, McKinzie Hall director, said that before students pick up an application, they need to hear the vision statement for residence life, find out what it is all about and then make a more educated decision about what to do.
Residence Life put more into advertising for RA and SLA positions this year, through Optimist ads, flyers, my.acu announcements and booths in the Campus Center, hoping to increase this year’s pool of applicants.
Julia Podzemny, junior speech pathology major from Sedan, N.M., has been an RA in Gardner Hall for two years.
“I felt like this was my leadership ministry,” Podzemny said. “I enjoy helping freshmen make the transition from high school to college and to be a mentor figure and a guide.”
Podzemny said she loves getting to know her girls on a personal basis and watching them grow throughout their freshman year. Barnard said these relationships are vital.
“The RA and SLA positions are some of the most important student leadership positions at ACU,” Barnard said. “These student leaders are ‘front line’ people who minister to students in powerful and important ways.”
The responsibilities of an RA include checking rooms each night, working the desk in the lobby and planning three or four activities a year. The RA’s also serve as a mediator in conflict situations and as a friend to the residents.
RA’s are paid by the university for anywhere from 15-20 hours of work per week at minimum wage.
“It’s not something you do for the money,” Podzemny said. “It’s a service to others.”
Applications will be available at the interest meetings and must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Feb. 17. Following this, essays and character references will be due and then the interview process will begin.
Sledge said they hope to have all RA’s and SLA’s hired before Spring Break in order to have more training time before August when the freshmen arrive.
“RA’s and SLA’s have the opportunity to change the world, beginning where they live,” Barnard said.
