To read James Han's original letter, please click HERE

Dear James Han,

   I’ve read your letter and you do make some valid points. I would like to let you know that I concur, we are not your mothers and we don’t want to be. Also, contrary to what you may think, RAs DO NOT make-up the rules, BUT we are expected to enforce them. Constantly complaining to us about how stupid the rules are is useless.

     If you really want change then YOU, the resident, must actually take the initiative and speak to Campus Res. I can’t promise you change, but if you don’t say anything, then the Administration may not even realize there is a problem. And don’t think that RAs agree with everything that goes on around here; we have an RA Council that is currently working to address RA concerns with some of the problems.

     There are additional things in your letter that as an RA I would like to address. Keep in mind that I do not speak for all RAs because WE ARE NOT ALL THE SAME. People in general may hear one thing and interpret it in different ways.   

     A common complaint is that RAs just do what they want and that we pull rules from our asses. Not true. However, we help to ensure that residents uphold the Student Conduct Code and the Terms of Occupancy, both of which you agreed to by signing your housing registration form. Like you wrote, we are students; you can’t expect us to be perfect RAs after 2 weeks of training. We learn by experience. You’ll find that some new RAs tend to be a little too over the top in enforcing the rules but that may be because they are eager to do their jobs correctly. They need time to get comfortable with their positions and get a feel for what it makes sense to do, so cut them some slack.

     As for the loud parties, YOU SHOULD HAVE SAID SOMETHING!!! RAs are NOT psychic. Even though an RA may live down the hall, s/he may not be there or be able to know. If I’m on duty and I live on the ground floor and there is a party upstairs on the opposite side of the building that may not have been going on during my last round (1 AM), unless I happen to pass by or hear about it from someone, I WILL NOT KNOW ABOUT IT BECAUSE NO ONE SAID ANYTHING. 

     A lot of residents think that we just know stuff automatically and then complain later that we never did anything, but these residents probably never said anything about it to us while it was going on. For example, if your studying is interrupted by loud music around 9PM (before quiet hours) and you/no one says anything about it, I will assume everything is okay. 

     If you don’t want to start drama, you can always be anonymous. It’s not like the RA is going to say, “Okay man you gotta turn down the music because the dude next door is complaining.” But don’t take this as justification for going to your RA to complain about everything. Most likely if you ask politely, the offending resident will stop.  

     With the liquor situation, understand that it is policy to ask that the resident dump the excess beer, even if it’s not always enforced. If you were stupid enough to blatantly advertise with an exposed 30-pack that there would be a party, you were asking for it. Personally, I would have asked you to leave the excess beer in your car, BUT technically, you were violating the Student Conduct Code. RA Protocol demands that the RA ask you to dump the beer. Some will ask and some will find a more rational alternative.

     Also, even though your birthday party may have been quiet, that still doesn’t change the fact that there were too many people in the suite. The maximum number of guests allowed in a suite is 12, 2 per resident I would have told you guys to keep quiet and stop people from constantly going in and out because of slamming doors. Again, different RAs take different approaches. You’re lashing out at ALL RAs with the assumption that we, as a whole, react and feel the same way about everything but you are very wrong.

     And it’s not like RAs just roam the halls looking for people to pick on, we honestly have much better things to do. HOWEVER, if another resident complains about you (which may have been the case for your party) we HAVE to follow it up. We can’t just say, “Okay, we’ll talk to [Resident with the party]” to the concerned resident and then walk away as if nothing happened because that’s just not right.

     One more thing: Health and Safety Inspections. You have anywhere from 1 day to 1 week to get rid of illegal stuff. If you don’t bother to read the signs posted all over then you deserve to get written up. An ICF for a “dirty” kitchen may have been much, but if you have old food all over the floor I will write you up too! Cockroach / ant infestations spread quickly. Your neighbors will blame the school and bitch at the RAs who can’t do anything except report it, when the blame really lies on you!

     Lastly, personal microwaves are not allowed. Period. If you have an issue, bring it up with Campus Res and stop complaining about the power outages at 3AM. I always get triples complaining about fixing room power outages at 1 AM. It turns out the reason why the power went out is because they all had their individual TVs, computers, microwaves, etc. going AND they were ALL blow-drying their hair at the same time. Please tell your love-to-bitch-at-the-RA friends to do their hair in the bathroom and not to stick ten million appliances to power strips upon power strips plugged into the wall because that causes power outages. Thank you.   
    
     Sincerely,
     A Concerned RA

Editors Note: This RA asked to be anonymous because things she would do are technically against the rules. If what you are doing affects others she will come down on you no questions asked. If not, as long as you keep the peace, that is what good RA's are trying to do too.