In light of the ongoing investigation of Dean Rodgers and other issues surrounding this year’s Resident Assistant training, we at The Fordham Ram argue that RAs, as well as other student leaders, must receive better training in order to properly assist students.
If the events that transpired surrounding the investigation reflect anything, it is the mismanagement of important information and resources for RAs who truly need it. As mandatory reporters, RAs need to know how to handle sexual assault situations to ensure that policy is followed. Waisting time politicizing the issue takes time from RAs who need to learn practical ways to ensure the safety of their residents.
Our Editorial Board also takes issue with the personnel who are invited to present at RA training. Many of these presenters have little to no prior experience training individuals on crisis management techniques. Upon looking into this year’s RA training schedule, we question some of the presenters and their ability to fully train our student RAs. For example, Fordham’s Counseling and Psychology Services (CPS) partners do not have the same experiences that RAs do with students facing sensitive issues like sexual assault, suicidality, eating disorders, panic attacks and self harm. While counselors at CPS do amazing work with Fordham students in a counseling environment, RAs deal with Fordham students in a much different situation. Many times, RAs intervene with residents in crisis situations. They are the front line of response, often when students are in immediate danger. Therefore, RAs should be trained by the best crisis management personnel who have firsthand experience in emergency situations.
Since RAs received such futile training on such important issues, it raises the question of whether or not RAs received proper training on other student life issues that week. RAs are the Fordham resident community’s greatest resource. They are in the trenches, working firsthand with students toward a happy and healthy four years. They are worth far more than their current training suggests.
For the safety of our student body, changes need to be made immediately. Other professionals, like crisis management workers, should be brought in to assist Residential Life with their training. In addition, more funding should be dedicated to their proper training.
On a similar note, student leader training in general should be improved at Fordham. We at The Fordham Ram argue that the Club Leader Summit held last weekend, to which students dedicated several hours of their Saturday, did not train student leaders adequately. While the training on budgeting was useful, most of the information was elementary and not necessarily what the leaders need to know. This is especially true when the variety of club leaders is taken into consideration. For example, a publication club leader, like those at The Fordham Ram, require very different training then the club leaders of performance groups, like Mimes and Mummers.
Our Editorial Board also feels that this summit employed fluffy and unnecessary talks filled with what it means to be a leader. Although validation is important, too much validation loses its luster and becomes counterproductive. Most Executive Boards consist of juniors and seniors who know perfectly well why it is important to be a leader. It would be more effective to talk about more specific information regarding budgets, event planning, club-specific suggestions and how to effectively utilize Office of Student Involvement (OSI) resources. What they got instead were tips already known to every Fordham club leader and member, such as advice about bringing candy and snacks to meetings.
We take issue with the attitudes of the event administrators running the training as well. Student leaders were very strongly discouraged from leaving the training. In addition, student leaders were watched carefully during breaks. A member of our executive board was told not to go to the water table during an intersession. This controlling behavior on the part of the administrative leaders illustrates the lack of trust in student leaders.
Although this may have been a measure to ensure students hear what theevent administrators felt were crucial, student leaders would more likely not want to leave if they considered the information valuable in the first place. Student leaders should be handled in the same regard as they are expected to act towards the rest of the student body: as mature adults. We ask that the Office of Student Involvement rethinks the execution of the Club Leader Summit and, in the future, provides more tangible and club specific information in the presentations.
Overall, the administration must treat RAs and other student leaders with respect and take them seriously. This means providing students with the crucial information they will need to carry out their duties in their respective leadership roles, rather than sharing superficial tips and unnecessary information. From helping a student during an emergency to budgeting for a club, student leaders are mature enough to fulfill their great responsibility to our campus. Current student leader trainings do not reflect this. It sends a message that RAs and student leaders are not respected to a point where they are taken for granted. Many new leaders have reported that they rely on their predecessors rather than the administration for help and guidance. This should not be the case. RAs and student leaders are entitled to the valuable information that can help Fordham be a safe place for everyone. Our student leaders deserve better, as does our entire student body.
