RAs, FAs employ people skills,
leadership to manage residents
Working for free room and
board and a stipend, housing
staff keep residents in line
By Chelsea Duncan
News Reporter
Whether it's enforcing rules among
their peers or finding a burning sofa in
a trash bin, resident assistants and
Freshman Interest Group academic as
sistants face an array of challenges
throughout their time as University res
idence-hall employees.
Residence Life Director Sandy
Schoonover said being a residence
hall staff member can be difficult but
rewarding.
"I think you really have to want to do
the job," she said.
For those who want to give it a shot,
Wednesday is the last day to apply for a
position as an RA or FA for the 2004-05
school year. Students selected to work
as RAs receive free room and board for
the academic year and a stipend of
$600 — $650 for returning RAs —
while FAs get a stipend of $250 and free
room and board.
Residence Life Assistant Director Tern
Sedgwick said RAs and FAs are required
to enforce University Housing policies
in the residence halls and build com
munity. They create programs for resi
dents such as movie marathon nights
and dances. FAs are also required to as
sist with fall term Freshman Interest
Group classes.
Schoonover said having good people
skills is probably the most important
quality a residence-hall staff member
can have.
"Being a good community developer
is the No. 1 rule, "she said.
Throughout the hiring process,
she said, applicants are evaluated for
their abilities to interact and work
well with others.
In February, applicants will go
through an interview process, which in
cludes a group interview, an individual
interview and group exercises to evalu
ate how applicants handle situations
they may face with residents.
"The goal of the exercise is to see,
how do they interact and communicate
with each other as a group?"
Schoonover said.
After the interview process, appli
cants attend a spring-term training
course. This year, applicants will not
know if they have been hired or chosen
as alternates until about halfway
through the course, Schoonover said.
"When the/re in the class, we're bet
ter able to assess their strengths and
weaknesses," she said.
About 125 students apply each year,
she said, and about 30 to 50 are hired
depending on how many current em
ployees return to work the next year.
About 15 applicants are placed on an
alternate list.
Turn to RAs, page 8
FPEP
continued from page 1
pregnancy rate among youths 10 to 17
years old and increase the number of
men receiving services from publicly
funded family planning clinics.
She added that she encourages stu
dents to apply for the services.
"It has been an extremely positive
program for the students," she said.
"Students are getting the information
that they need, whether they're sexually
active or not"
However, Dehaven-Murdoch said
students are limited in the quantity of
services they can receive. Women are
limited to one annual exam per 12
months and a maximum of 13 months
worth of birth control at a time.
Also, men and women are limited to
100 condoms per day, and FPEP will
not cover non-symptomatic STI screen
ing and treatment or medications and
supplies relating to treating infections.
Since July 2000, 9,580 women have
been FPEP-eligible and 25,350 visits
have been billed to FPEP, Dehaven
Murdoch said.
There have been 1,610 men who par
ticipated in the program so far.
FPEP does request that a student's in
surance be billed first if the students has
it. However, if a student wants to main
tain confidentiality from the insurance
or parents, FPEP will cover the services
and the information will stay at the
health center, Dehaven-Murdodh said.
University junior Michael White felt
that only students without insurance
should get FPEP services.
"If they are covered on their parent's
insurance, I don't think it's a good idea
that they are able use the program,"
she said.
Senior McKenzie Gibson disagreed,
saying the services should stay accessible
"I think it's a good way for stu
dents to be able to take care of their
health," she said. "I'm really glad the
grant was renewed."
She added that many students can't
afford birth control on their own and
FPEP helps them to receive it and edu
cate themselves.
In the future, FPEP will provide va
sectomies and female sterilization, ac
cording to the Oregon Department of
Human Services Child and Family
Health division's Web site.
Contact the crime/health/safety reporter
at lisacatto@dailyemerald.com.
Make a mark for yourself!
Sponsored by
2004 UO Ameri( an
MarkeHng Assoc iafion
RecfuiHng Even!
Wednesday January 28, 2004
5-7pm in fhe Lillis Afrium
-Meet recruiters and
polish your gambling
skills
-Livemusic, tood 8s prizes
provided at this entirely
LRLL event
AH majors are invited
to attend
-Business c asual
attire encour aged
GOT A STORY IDEA? KmSJ;
piezw
444 E.3RD • 484-191J • MON-SAT ll:30AM TO CLOSE
South end of Ferry St. Bridge
ALL DAY
eveayday;
AT THE UNIVERSITY OF OREGON
* leadership through academics
* leadership through experience
* leadership through connection
uoleadership.uoregon.edu
opportunities ■ resources ■ events
I
o
JOIN THE MOVEMENT TO END EDUCATIONAL INEQUITY
FIND OUT HOW:
_ J0* --
Info Session and Alumni Panel • Thursday, January 29
I W 7:00 — 8:30 pm • EMU, Walnut Room
ccounts of the corps member experience from UO alumni!
Food and refreshments will be served.
Final Application Deadline
February 15, 2004
FOR
www.teachforamerica