/NORTHERNIOWAN
CEDAR FALLS, IA
WWW.NORTHERNIOWAN.COM
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2024
Unlocking the RA experience
ts n e d i es My r ate me v mo t i a g r e a t to be A. R
@NORTHERNIOWAN
VOLUME 120, ISSUE 27
I haven’t been able to live on th is wage.
Resident Assistants share their stories ( My boss) suppor ts me a s a p e r son .
a ke m u o y If ke, a t s i m a a re people see o going t it.
R As a r e hu m a n b e i ng s.
CAROLINE CHRISTENSEN Executive Editor
Editor’s Note: This article is a follow-up to,“The R(A)eality of Being an RA’’ published by the Northern Iowan in 2022. One of the contributors to this article is Bailey Klinkhammer, who served as an RA from 2022-2023. Bailey helped to conduct and transcribe five interviews from both former and current RAs. The main author of this article is Northern Iowan Executive Editor Caroline Christensen. The Northern Iowan reached out to University Housing and Dining and the UNI Counseling Center for comment. UHD replied to the Northern Iowan via email in collaboration with University Relations. The UNI Counseling Center replied to the Northern Iowan, but due to the Northern Iowan’s publishing deadline, did not have time to comment. The Northern Iowan spoke with 13 RAs both on and off the record, three of these being former RAs. To respect the wishes of those who spoke with us, the identity of these RAs will be kept anonymous. This article discusses issues related to mental health. For the hundreds of UNI students living in dorms across campus, resident assistants (RAs) are a crucial resource. From monitoring student safety to creating engaging hall events, RAs provide the foundation for on-campus living. While the benefits of free room and board encourage many to apply for RA openings, several RAs we spoke with said their main motivation for applying was the urge to make a difference in the lives of fellow students. “I had a hard time adjusting to college and I wanted to help others have a better transition,” said RA 1. “My residents motivate me to be a great RA, because they are great residents. I love knowing that I helped residents have a smooth transition to college.” RA 2 echoed RA 1, saying they were enticed by the free room and board, but were motivated to apply in order to help others. See RA STORIES, page 2 MALLORY SCHMITZ