This fall, Residential Life will unveil an unprecedented change for Resident Assistants (RAs). Dubbed the RA Bill of Rights, the document will formally outline provisions available to them with a distinction from the guidelines of their contracts. The contracts state duties; the new bill will state specific rights.
Though it’s ironic that RAs, who are responsible for espousing university policy to students who live on-campus, have lacked their own set of guidelines until now, the welcomed change is important. The RA Bill of Rights will serve as a valuable handbook for RAs and foster a stronger environment of transparency between them and Residential Life.
Until now, Northeastern’s RAs were left without a written guide for acceptable behavior, which ultimately bred confusion when it came to punishment. The legislation was sparked after two RAs approached the Student Government Association (SGA) alleging they were unfairly terminated from their positions earlier this year.
‘They didn’t really know what they had been doing wrong,’ said Marines Piney, last year’s SGA vice president for student affairs, in an article in today’s News. ‘They knew historically things had been done some way, but in no case was anything ever written down on paper.’
Although the reasons for their firings may have been legitimate, it raised concerns about RAs’ rights. If done properly and described in detail, an RA Bill of Rights will clarify dismissal procedures for both students and administrators, as well as help in other ways.
In 2005, RAs voiced anger when the administration made changes to the overnight shift provision in their contracts without their input. Creating a guide presents an opportunity for these students, who are also employees of the university, to fight any unfair reprimands.
With clearer guidelines, it would also justly serves Residential Life. RAs can no longer say they are ignorant of expectations when they are privy to a formal, written list of rules. It’s an added layer of protection for both parties involved.
Director of Residential Life Robert Jose, who drafted the document with other administration officials and Senior RAs, declined to elaborate until everyone was made aware of the change. But while the specifics haven’t yet come to light, it’s important that the RA Bill of Rights has clear language, and gives detailed information when it comes to the provisions available for RAs. Something that is vaguely-worded or difficult to understand will not benefit anyone.
Few would argue that RAs have an easy job. They oversee sometimes dozens of students and log in plenty of shifts throughout the week in addition to a regular workload of classes. They are compensated for their service with free room and board, but it’s unfair to expect them to do their jobs well if they don’t have some formal guidance.
At its best, the RA Bill of Rights will benefit both RAs and ResLife. It provides provisions for fairer treatment of RAs while at the same time ensuring that their employers are held accountable as well. Now that RAs will know precisely what is expected, they will have stronger insight to serve the student body.
