Carolyn Casey's article in Tuesday's issue of The Post, RAs paid little
gain rewards was factually incorrect and disappointing. Resident Assistants at Ohio University do NOT get half of their room and board. We only receive half off our room, and nothing in terms of our board (meal plans). The factual error also was carried over to the continuation on page four when the writer again said that the ARA she talked to received full room and board.
I am a third-year RA in Wilson Hall on West Green, and I pay for college entirely by myself. I care about my studies and do not want to get buried in student loans. Because of this, I became an RA when I was a sophomore. I love the job of interacting with residents, becoming close with the other RAs in my complex and having a sense of a secure family while here at OU.
Our new president, Roderick McDavis, spoke to the entire department of Residence Life during our summer training. His speech outlined his plan for this school year, and it focused on cutting down the number of parties and putting more value into our degrees. I was proud to be in that room and proud to have such a great president at our fine university.
But I am angered that the university still does not put enough value in those of us who work 24-7. The life of an RA is not glamorous; we are the ones woken up in the middle of the night when a resident in locked out. We are the ones who, instead of running outside during a fire alarm, run inside and check every single room to see that everyone else gets out safely. We are the ones who are never really alone who work all day and night and always keep a good attitude and a smile on our faces. We come back a week and a half early in the summer for training, and we are the ones who represent the university in the residence halls.
The bottom line is that Ohio University does not pay its RAs enough. I do not have a meal plan because I cannot afford one. Because of this, I live off Ramen noodles and peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches. If I am lucky, one of my residents or friends has the kindness of heart to take me into the dining halls on their Super 14 or 20 meal plans. My paycheck is a let-down, going entirely to my food for the next two weeks, and not to paying some of the interest on my student loans.
All I ask is that the university take a good look at the hard-working resident assistants who give up Halloween every year, work around the clock and still find time to go to class. I am graduating this year, but I hope those who come after me get the compensation they deserve.
-Jessica Costello, a resident assistant at Wilson Hall, is an online journalism major. Send her an e-mail at jessica.costello@ohiou.edu.
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