CAs Should Focus On Meaningful Activities

Community assistants are a part of almost every undergraduate's life at UConn. Yet it seems CAs handle their position in varying ways. Students hope that they get a "good" or "cool" CA that will let small misdemeanors slide. Some students have great relationships with their CAs, even becoming friends while others may barely know their CA's name. According to the university's CA position description, a CA's "primary purpose" is to "support the educational and personal goals of students" within a given community. While this sounds like an ideal position meant to foster community bonds, the realities of a CA's position are different. The university's current system not only does little to promote community relationships but it also puts CAs in positions that are uncomfortable and unreasonable.

CAs are required to "provide activities and programs that encourage and support student academic … wellness … and life skills." Evidence of these programs can be seen around campus dorms; aromatherapy sessions, exercise how-to demos and alcohol and drug awareness seminars. CAs need attendance to these events so they decide the best way to have a high turnout is to lure students in with free pizza or candy. The problem is not only that money is wasted on these events and food but that they do little or nothing to promote community bonding. Students often show up just to receive the free food before high-tailing it out of the event. But the biggest problem is that a majority of students don't bother to show up at all.

For freshmen students, some events and activities may prove to be important. CA programs can be opportunities to meet other new students and understand more about college life. Events such as "Managing Stress in College" can certainly help an adjusting freshman with workload regulation. Yet, the problem with these events is that they all seem to be designed in the same way. Clearly, asking juniors and seniors to give up "The Hills" to learn about 'good study habits' is absolutely ridiculous. There should be no surprise that attendance to these events is so low. At a time when students are coming into adulthood it is insulting and demeaning to be asked to learn about 'safe sex' or other topics typically covered in ninth-grade health class. Instead of these silly activities, CAs should create a system of true communication with their floors. Floor Web sites could post monthly themes, contests, games and events. A CA floor Web site could prove very effective if students felt they had a say in what their floor participated in. Students themselves should choose events for their floors that would actually foster community development such as inter-floor sports tournaments and other contests. Rather than just being invited to pre-determined programs students themselves should decide community events.

A CA Web site would also replace bulletin boards and save CAs considerable time. Bulletin boards of 'pertinent issues' are carefully constructed each month by CAs. These are also often ripped down by intoxicated students the following weekend. While some of the topics presented on the boards are relevant and valid issues, posting them in dormitory halls is only a waste of time for they are rarely read and often destroyed. Safety and other monthly information could be posted on a CA's floor webpage where the material will not be destroyed and those who wish to learn about the topics can easily access it. Instead of long articles and information on bulletin boards CAs could post pictures of floor members involved in floor activities. Students would be interested in seeing themselves and their peers up together and it would also illustrate community relationships.

By far, the most disheartening job of a CA is enforcing campus rules. It is a CA's duty to write up any student found in violation of the ResLife Housing Contract and the student code. Unfortunately this puts CAs in an extremely difficult position. CAs are students themselves but they must act as a superior to their peers. CAs seem to have a bad reputation no matter what they do. If they write up a group of potential friends for underage drinking or a quiet hours violation they automatically are the "bad guy." Resentment toward CAs is extensive, and they get little respect. Every student believes they should be cut a break, and most students find it difficult to acquiesce to a peer and potential friend. What most students do not understand though is that CAs put themselves at risk if they choose not to write someone up when a violation is made. If the university finds a CA ignoring misdemeanors, they themselves are put on probation and their CA title could even be revoked.

Most CAs clearly are not out to look for ways to get fellow students in trouble by playing "bad cop." However, as it stands a CA's contract allows for little leeway in their decision making: if they see a violation they must respond no matter what common sense tells them. A true community should promote discretion and critical thinking, not a supreme law enforcer. CAs must not feel intimidated and students should not have to feel spied on. CAs ought to be able to use their best judgment in their decision making. The only mandatory reporting or write up a CA should be forced to do is if a student compromises another's safety or respect. Disciplining students for underage drinking is the responsibility of the police, not a victimized CA.

A CA's job should not be one of stress, planning for useless events and dealing with resentment from fellow students. A CA should be someone who gives a voice to different dorms on campus and who feels confident in the decisions he/she makes. Only through revamping the current CA system can students actually feel involved in dorm life and finally develop trusting relationships with their CAs.

Staff Columnist Amanda Beardsworth is a 5th-semester communications and English double major. She can be reached at Amanda.Beardsworth@UConn.edu.