By Jaci Schneider, Copy Editor

Students who want to spend more time in the residence halls living with underclassmen have until Feb. 3 to apply for the honor.

Residence Life Education and Housing will hire about 60 students as resident assistants for next semester, said the director of the office, Dr. Mimi Barnard.

Students interested in being RAs had the opportunity to attend a ResLife rush Thursday night, where they met the residence hall directors and asked questions about the position, said Rebecca Cates, resident hall director of Sikes Hall and assistant director of Residence Life Education and Housing.

Barnard also said she anticipates a few residence hall director positions opening up, although she doesn’t know how many. Residence Life will post the openings in April, she said.

Cates said Residence Life doesn’t know how many students plan to apply for positions, but she’s not worried about a lack of applicants. About 100 typically apply for the 60 positions.

“We always have more apply than we need,” she said.

To apply, students need to fill out an application, which includes demographic information, grade point average, major, Abilene church attendance and other student leadership positions. The students must also turn in recommendations and meet with directors for an interview.

“We look for a person that’s well-rounded, involved in other things … and is responsible,” Cates said. “People who apply should like working with people, feel called to the position as a ministry and like to have fun.”

Barnard said students can also apply for desk positions in the residence halls, even if they do not plan to be an RA.