Leadership activities abound in residence halls
Residence halls offer many
opportunities to participate
in advising, leadership
and government roles
By Lisa Catto
Freelance Reporter
When she moved into the Univer
sity residence halls this fall, freshman
Chelsey DeBois was slightly appre
hensive about how to make friends
and learn her way around campus.
But those worries were soon eased.
"I didn't realize that the residence
halls would have so many ways for
me to get involved and meet
other people living on campus,"
DeBois said.
Students living in the residence
halls can join housing government
and academic programs, and apply
for jobs — all without leaving
their complex.
John I lollan, assistant director of
residence life in University Housing,
helps organize different residence hall
programs. He deals specifically with
leadership within the halls.
"Basically, I am in charge of
promoting opportunities and creat
ing opportunities for students,"
Hollan said.
The Residence Hall Association is
one of the largest programs Hollan
works with. The association provides
opportunities for students to sit on
the executive board and take part in
the different committees that plan
hall events.
Association members also attend
several conferences during the year,
and involved students have the op
portunity to network with students
and faculty from other campuses.
In addition to the association, stu
dents can also get involved with
their own complex's government
and make decisions regarding their
immediate living situation as well as
what they would like to see happen
in their complex.
Individual halls also have their
own governments that deal with ac
tivities and funding decisions. If a stu
dent's hall does not have a hall gov
Danielle Hickey Senior Photographer
Carson Hall resident assistant Jaime Wren shares pluses and minuses for the week with fellow RAs Ismira Brkich (front), Bryon Burleigh and Marc Thayer (right to left) on Thursday.
eminent, he or she can work with oth
er members of the hall to start one.
If students prefer to get involved in
academic-related pursuits, the two
hall advisory boards offer numerous
opportunities.
The Honors Hall Advisory Board,
located in Walton Complex, hosts
panels that bring in speakers on a va
riety of topics. The Hamilton Advisory
Board is new but has similar objec
tives. Students from each complex
control the direction and activities of
the academic advisory boards.
University Housing provides many
employment opportunities for stu
dents, including jobs in the various
dining facilities and the housing of
fice. There are also opportunities for
current students to become resident
assistants or freshman interest group
academic assistants.
RAs and FIG assistants live with
their peers in the residence halls and
work to create better communities for
residents.
Hollan said RAs and FIG assistants
work as "crisis managers, counselors
and friends."
Cindy Ruggles, a senior account
ing and psychology major, has
been working as a resident assistant
for three years. She currently lives
in Stafford I lall in the Earl Complex.
"Each year I decided to return be
cause I found that during my time as a
RAI could really make a positive im
pact and enjoyed getting to know lots
of people," Ruggles said.
Ruggles said the involvement op
portunities in the residence halls
provide students with a chance to
develop and implement their lead
ership skills. They also get to make
connections with other students
and student leaders on campus and
are able to voice their opinions
rather than have them spoken for
them, Ruggles said.
"I enjoy the fact that I get to be a
part of so many residents' first expe
riences at the UO, and that 1 am able
to help or guide them through it,"
she said. Students who want to be
come involved with their hall should
contact their resident assistant for
more information.
Lisa Catto is a freelance reporter
for the Emerald.
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