Resident advisors fired after drinking alcohol off campus

BOULDER, Colo. (U-WIRE)— Drinking two sips of beer and a shot of whisky off campus in October cost a University of Colorado resident adviser his job.

William Liggett, a Kittredge Arnett RA, said he confessed to drinking off campus after his boss, Jamila Spencer, a Kittredge hall director assistant, cried in a staff meeting because she thought she couldn’t trust her staff.

“I felt guilty,” said Liggett, a sophomore open-option major. “I wanted to clear the air and be the one person she could trust.”

But instead of clearing the air, Liggett and five RAs who confessed to drinking in support of him, were asked to clean out their rooms.

The Kittredge housing department fired six RAs Feb. 7 for drinking, a violation the department has a “zero tolerance” policy for. Five of the six fired said they came forward voluntarily to support Liggett and never expected to be punished as harshly as they were. All six said their drinking was an isolated incident that occurred off campus and away from Kittredge residents.

Suzy Campbell, associate director of residential education, would not comment on the specific case, but she said RAs have to be held to a higher standard than regular residents.

Liggett said he and the others were misled. After he came forward, Liggett said Spencer told him she was proud of him. The two laughed about the situation, and Liggett felt his job was not in jeopardy. But Liggett said she encouraged him to talk to Larry Lofton, the hall director, who was much more concerned. After Liggett talked to Lofton, Spencer told him he could be fired.

Spencer, a junior political science major and international studies major, said she understood why Liggett felt misled because she was “ecstatic” he had come forward. But, Spencer also said she told Liggett he could be fired before he met with Lofton.

Soon after, Lofton presented the matter, hypothetically, to all the Kittredge RAs. A few recommended the hypothetical person be fired, so knowing Liggett would most likely be fired, several other RAs confessed to drinking.

“We all had the utmost respect for William (Liggett),” said Chad Klingensmith, a junior management major who was also fired. “To not come forward after what he did would have been hypocritical.”

Ryan Harman, Jennie Legary, a junior music and the arts major, Gwendlline Van Doosselaere, a junior art history major, Owen Townes, a senior molecular biology and biochemistry major, Liggett, and Klingensmith, all admitted to drinking and were fired. All six said they expected some form of punishment but did not expect to be fired.

Meanwhile, residents in the dorms have had mixed feelings. Ryan LaPalce, a freshman engineering major who lives in Arnett, said Klingensmith was an “awesome” RA who was in touch with his hall, but said he was happy living without an RA.

“Its pretty cool,” LaPalce said. “Guys just walk around the (residence) hall with beer.”

Spencer said that is an exaggeration of the truth. She said with the cooperation of other RAs around Kittredge, they have been able to successfully patrol the residence halls.

Since the incident, Liggett has also lost his job as a night security officer on campus. Ric Johnson, director of night security, could not comment on why Liggett was fired, but Liggett said he was told the incident was the major reason for his being terminated. Liggett had to take out a $2,000 loan to cover his new living expenses.

Klingensmith said he wonders what would happen if all the RAs on campus were as honest as he and the other five were.

“I think if all the RAs on campus were as forthright as we were, housing would be in turmoil.”

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TCU Daily Skiff © 2002