The Residence Life office is constantly busy during this time of year. The added challenge of increased enrollment and a change of office location did not hinder the momentum of the office and the staff’s commitment to ensuring the wellness of the community.
The freshman class of 2018 is approximately 400 strong, while the class of 2017 was 319. The significant increase has caused changes in housing, as the school is at capacity on the first day of classes. As Residence Life director Sue Kramer explains, “Yes, we had to consolidate the sophomore class out of East, and move juniors out of the houses to West; consolidation isn’t always welcomed,” Kramer admits that they moved people out of the rooms they picked. “It wasn’t their choice.”
“While we are accommodating space, we are doing our best to accommodate everyone that lives on campus,” Kramer said.
There are 835 beds available between Xavier, East, Woodcrest, West, the apartments and the houses. However, House 2, Dixon, is unfit to live in due to mold.
President Don Taylor expressed in a speech that bids will be placed on the Dixon house.
Also, senior males are living in the Emmaus House, located on the west side of campus. The house is one of the original buildings on campus.
Students may have received notices about housing changes. In order to house more students, House 3, Infante, was made co-ed during room selection. Casey and McManus, houses four and five, are still all female. West and the Cabrini Apartment Complex (CAC) are strictly for juniors and seniors.
Staff members needed to make more space in existing dorms for new and returning students. Therefore, Kramer explained that lounges were converted back into rooms, beds were added and rooms were converted in Woodcrest.
Kramer clarified that the staff is “Not moving people out of spite, but for the common good.” Residence Life staff members do not want to move students out of the rooms that they chose, instead stressing ensuring the common good to “welcome current and transfer students.”
“Increased enrollment is surprising and welcomed,” Kramer added.
Residence Life sent returning students an email at the end of July to verify if they intended to return to campus. Kramer noted that some students do decide to not stay on campus and not let people know until later that they might not come back. The email process is a “checks and balances” procedure, Kramer added.
The classes are fairly evenly split as to students living on campus from freshman to senior year. Kramer is content with the steady increase of upperclassman students who ask to live on campus.
Rest assured, Cabrini College is equipped to handle the housing changes.
“It’s been an interesting summer, not something we haven’t been faced with before. We are not in a housing crisis,” Kramer said.
Kramer also noticed that students should have “more professional guidance” as both Mike Mullen and Akirah Massenburg have been promoted to assistant directors.
In addition, the recent office change is another piece of becoming more accessible to students.
“Our goal is to better accommodate students, the office was kind of hidden in Widener,” Kramer said.
Located across from the ITR office on the basement floor of Founders will create “A lot more foot traffic from students, pretty much all students walk by the caf,” Kramer adds.
A staple of the residence life leadership are the resident assistants, RAs, that are the faces of campus after 5 o’clock.”
The RAs reported for training on Saturday, Aug. 9, to prepare for the school year.
Kramer explains that being an RA “is a great leadership opportunity, two weeks intensive training, give them skills to build community, handle crisis management, homesickness, roommate conflicts and day-to- day issues.”
Through training and the numerous experiences during the year, “The skills that they gain are tremendous in the community that they form,” said Kramer.
Kramer started planning new initiatives in December with current staff, to add more resources for the students.
Residence assistants speak up about issues that they encounter, and their thoughts are always welcomed. “If a programming model or a training session is too complicated or if something isn’t working, it makes our jobs harder,” said Kramer.
Kramer looked up to the RAs during her freshman year in college and understands that “You are not only an RA. You are a student, friend, daughter, son, athlete, SGA member, must balance roles.”
“They are a student first and foremost. That’s their main role on campus.”
Unfortunately, dealing with roommate conflicts, confrontations, broken or damaged halls can be a dark and challenging side of the already immense responsibilities.
Kramer hopes that the residence halls can “Cut down on shenanigans and vandalism” as the “Main goal is community builder, create a strong, healthy and fun resident hall.”
There are 30 student staff members, including 28 RAs, the same number as last year, and two programming assistants
Recruitment of RAs begins late October through the beginning of November. Instead of a vigorous recruitment campaign, RAs are asked to have peer-to-peer recruitment. Professors in other departments and the professional staff are involved as well.
Kramer explains that recruiters “Look for students who have leadership skills or quiet leaders who may not be involved in many activities but have an inner leadership quality.”
The current and returning RAs form more than impressive leadership skills and vibrant stories, but strong friendships with fellow RAs, students and staff.
“When you do what we do and go through meetings from 10 p.m. to 12 a.m. at some meetings, I don’t think you can do this position without having good relationships,” Kramer adds.
Any student with work-study, all four years, can apply for a desk assistant, RAC, or job in the residence life office. Desk assistants create their own schedule of four hour shifts which is a great opportunity to be involved on campus and have employment.
The trusting environment boasts an “Honest, open-door policy” as the staff members are “Always open with what’s going on in classes, RA position and what to change. Kramer insists the importance of team building, the building and forming a “solid foundation of trust for all staff.”
