Now that the long-awaited process of interviewing has finally ended, the 2007-2008 resident assistants and hall directors have been announced.
Associate Dean of Students Shelby Coxon said several people contribute to the decision-making process, including students who have formerly held RA positions.
“Generally, the previous RAs who have graduated or who are not participating in a position anymore get to have a say in who they think would make a good match for the job,” Coxon said. “I think it is essential for the students’ inputs because they are the ones who have already had experience in the position and know what the job entails.”
Junior Michelle Burton, a second-year RA, she said she thinks it takes someone who is not only patient but also someone who works well with students to be a good leader.
“When you are interviewing, I know they look at your personality and see if you can interact well with others,” Burton said.
In having a peer-to-peer leadership position, the standards of being both respected and assertive are raised.
“A hall director or RA needs to be someone the students can respect and are willing to stand up to their peers,” Coxon said.
Senior Michelle Watts said coming to Baker as a transfer student interfered with her decision of whether to apply for a leadership position or not.
“I transferred to Baker last year and originally thought about applying to be an RA, but I was working a lot and decided that I didn’t have enough time to dedicate to something as big at that,” Watts said.
In agreeing to become involved in such a position, time commitment is a necessity.
“I would definitely recommend applying to be a leader, but patience is key,” Burton said. “They have to be someone who doesn’t mind staying in Baldwin City a couple of weeks, or missing the occasional party because they have to be on duty.”
Resident assistants
Tiffany Bagsby Michelle Burton Di-Tu Dissassa Lindsy Harders Tracy Light Ron Atkinson Rashad Bolden Bob Linebarger Frank Owens Taylor Parker Greg West Henry Wulfekoetter