To find a residence near campus, students often need to begin the search by mid-fall. Those applying for RA positions face a difficult position. They must wait until Feb. 25 or Feb. 26 to learn if they secured a position. By this time, finding friends to live with would be difficult. Rather than take the risk, many qualified students choose not to apply to be an RA. The late application process is inconsiderate of student needs - and the University has no compelling reason for the process to continue past November.
RAs are a source of relatively cheap labor for the University, but they also have a great deal of responsibility and play a vital role in maintaining a congenial residence hall environment. RAs are ideal persons to mediate disputes among roommates. They could prevent conflicts from reaching the Code of Student Conduct. Moreover, they should be individuals whom residents feel comfortable approaching for advice. Having the selection take place earlier in the year would increase the size of the applicant pool - ensuring that those given positions are impeccably qualified to handle the responsibilities of being an RA.
One reason to apply to be an RA is to ease the financial burden of attending the University. But because of the late application date, many of those applying for a position may experience an adverse effect on their finances. If a student does not get the position, few housing options remain. By winter term, all reasonable housing options have one thing in common - an abominable price. Students not selected may have no choice but to live in the residence halls, which certainly are not the proper place for those on a tight budget. By keeping the selection process late in the year, Housing is increasing student costs for many of those who can afford it the least.
To become an RA is difficult. According to Julie Lavrack, the University's assistant director of resident education, there are 475 applicants for RA positions. Of these, only 205 are hired. High selectivity helps to ensure worthy candidates are chosen - but those who are not offered employment are left in the lurch. An earlier selection date would give 270 students an opportunity to live where and with whom they want.
Along with being a student resource, RAs help to avert some of the conflicts inherent in residence hall living. In return, the University relieves some of the RAs' financial burden. Moving the selection process to an earlier date would be beneficial to both students in resident halls and to the residence advisers. More students would apply for RA positions; consequently, those chosen would be more qualified. Furthermore, if one is not offered a position there would still be adequate time to find an affordable place to live. Housing needs to decide the dates of its selection process based not upon what is convenient for them, but instead by what is best for the student body.