Dear Editor,
In response to the article “RA’s should also abide by rules “ printed in the Feb. 15 issue of the Campus Times, I would like to say that I think it is ridiculous to categorize the entire housing staff by one person’s experiences. Instead, I think it is right for us, as the residents, to comment upon the competence of our housing staff.
When I was locked out, I tried to call campus security because it was right in-between the time when RAs come on duty and when I could have gone down to the Resident Office, but security was giving me a tough time about being locked out. I needed to get in my room right away because I needed to take a shower and be at work in 20 minutes. Instead of making me wait for an RA to come on duty and open my door, my RA called security for me and explained the situation and asked them to come. She was not on duty and she did not have to help me, she was just being the kind of RA that most of our RAs are, very helpful and caring.
The RA/PA staff has gone above and beyond the call of duty on numerous occasions. I have had two hour conversations with my RA on many occasions about life and school and anything that came to mind. She has given me advice, or just been there to listen on many occasions. The same is true for the PA staff. There is one PA in particular who even cared enough to notice that I had left an event that we just both happened to be at. She knew I had been going through some tough times and she left her friends to walk outside and see that I was okay. It was not surprising to me that she noticed I had left, nor that she cared enough to be there for me, because that is the type of people the RA/PA staff is made up of.
These are just a few examples of the types of people on the housing staff. The RAs and PAs of La Verne should
be commended for their efforts. They are the greatest, most sensitive, caring, wonderful people around. I hope that they realize how much they are appreciated not only by me, but by the majority of residents on campus.
Wendy Schwartz
Dear Editor,
I feel it unnecessary to even respond to last weeks editorial for the mere fact that there was no evidence presented, no name cited, and for the most part it was an unfounded opinion. There is not much to say in rebuttal to such an unsubstantiated editorial. But I will say this; before any one person can go around criticizing, they should learn the procedure each staff member is held accountable to. RA/PAs do not have the authority to handle every situation that is why we have a Campus Safety and Maintenance Department to rely on. To be an RA/PA is to hold much more than just a job on campus. It is a 24-hour a day thing. There is no room we could go to, no party we could drop in on, or even school function we could attend without being made aware of the position we hold on campus. It is important that as residents you let your RA/PA know how much you appreciate all that they have done for you. It is a never-ending job.
It is hard to be an RA/PA and read such lies about yourself in Campus Times, but I would just like to tell all the staff members, that while doing such, just remember how many lives you touch daily by just doing your job. Think of all those residents that you helped in a time of need, those that you comforted at 3 a.m. when their significant other broke up with them, those that you were just there for and who in the end, were thankful for your time. To conclude, I would like to say THANK YOU to all the student staff members for a job well done. This job is often unrewarding and unappreciated, but in your heart you know you have helped someone out. Just always remember those that really do appreciate your efforts. It may be a thankless job, but someone has to do it and this years staff does that, and does it incredibly well.
Jennifer Davis
Head RA
Wendy Schwartz