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Letters to the Editor

More research should be done to show the amount of work in socials

I assume most can understand my shock and anger when a fellow residential assistant knocked on my door to share an offensive article concerning poor quality programming. It’s unfortunate to hear that at the university level there are still those of us who wish to evaluate the actions of peers without taking into account what processes, and guidelines in which they are required to follow and act upon. Arguably, wing socials and all-hall programs can most certainly be found in a quick Internet search. However, as an RA one has to consider time, budget, needs of the hall, available contacts or resources ... the list is endless. Are the authors of the article suggesting that free food is not appreciated? That congregating around a snack bowl does not provide a place to build community in the hall? If students “don’t care enough to get off their futon and attend social events,” how does that turn into the fault of the RA? The presented mathematical equation just doesn’t jive. Indeed, RAs have “more obligations to their residents than to just know their names or to write them up for plugging in their refrigerator incorrectly.” I encourage the authors of the article to do a little research of their own. Talk to residential assistants, find out what our job entails, and reevaluate the presented and unconvincing narcissistic argument.

— Lyndsay Jo Hendrixson, sophomore nuring major