University of Kansas graduate students Tyrone Brown, Daniel Easton and Meghan Harr trade in their Jayhawk apparel daily when they step onto Wildcat territory as graduate assistants.

The graduate assistant position lasts one to two years. After the first year, any of the three can choose to seek a second year renewal plan.

Each graduate assistant resides within a housing complex among the students and works as an area coordinator for that specific residence.

This comes in handy for freshman Jordan Buckley.

“He is very good at unlocking doors,” Buckley said of Brown, who lives in Gessner Hall and has done his fair share of letting students back into their rooms.

Easton is the area coordinator of the Living and Learning Center, as well as Horn and Markham apartments. He graduated from the University of Denver in 2007.

Along with living in Colorado, Easton has traveled around the world. His father was in the military and lived numerous places for short amounts of time. Easton said he has experienced his fair share of change from moving around so much.

This experience may benefit students encountering the same ordeal with their transition into college.

“I like talking with students about an issue, knowing they learned a lot and then seeing them live that success in the college community,” Easton said.

Much of that success is visible on the Student Activities Council, where Harr spends a portion of her time. Harr graduated from Drake University, where she was SAC president.

“I have gone to her with SAC as well as housing problems, and she was very kind and very helpful,” freshman Lauren Nelson said.

Freshman Kim Tate has the same impression of Brown, area coordinator of Gessner and who assists Brett Bruner, director of greek life and health education.

“Tyrone is just a cool person in general,” Tate said.

Brown graduated from KU with a major in business education and a minor in African-American studies. His long-term plan includes working with college students.