Resident advisers train to battle COVID-19

In groups of about eight, new and younger Resident Advisers (RA) waited in the narrow, hot halls of Edna for their chance to test their skills. In groups of two they approach a closed dorm-room door, knock, and wait for whatever stressful situation lies inside. 

A different mock scenario plays out in each room. In one, RAs have to handle a party involving alcohol, in another they must de-escalate an argument between two roomates. Everyone dreads the final two rooms – one in which a resident has been sexually assualted and another with a resident contemplating suicide.

In addition to the already-demanding position, both incoming and veteran RAs are trained how to interact with residents and their environment to adhere to the ever-changing COVID health regulations. 

This wasn’t exactly what  Drew Kurtenbach, a 19-year-old sophomore of Rapid City, South Dakota, expected his job to be like when he made up his mind to become an RA last winter before COVID-19 struck. Despite the added responsibilities the pandemic has thrust upon RLA employees, Kurtenbach never second guessed his decision to become an RA.

“The biggest thing is trying to be a role model when wearing a mask,” Kris Boardman, Associate Director (AD) of Kent Hall and Eagle Ridge, said.

Boardman added that enhanced communication was a focus of this year’s training.

“We basically went through training to understand how to see signs and symptoms a little bit better,” he said, “and to just make sure our residents are comfortable telling us that they’re sick or ill and that they know that we’re going to get them in the best hands, the fastest route.” 

Boardman explained that RAs work with campus nurses, serving as a middle-man between nurses and students.

“While talking to them (RA staff) over the summer,” Kurtenbach said, “I could really see that they were trying to adjust everything. Once I got on campus I could see that everyone’s overall being pretty smart about wearing masks and washing their hands.”

 RAs also sanitize dorm lobbies much more frequently this semester. Boardman said his staff cleans everything from door handles to hand sanitizer stands every hour.

Sophomore Cameron McClintock, 20, of Wallace, who has been an RA since last semester, mentioned some difficulties enforcing new rules.

“Due to our new COVID policy, you’re only supposed to have eight people to a room,” he said, “which is a bit more difficult (to enforce) because people like to go into rooms, they like to hangout.”

Boardman said the mask requirement has been the toughest new guideline to enforce.

“They (residents) are not used to having to wear (masks) 24/7 while in the building, so that’s something that is showing hard to adapt to,” he explained.

Boardman guessed that, over time, students would get used to wearing masks and frustrations with doing so would dwindle.

Junior JoAnn Neel, 20, of McCook, has been an RA since last fall semester. Her interactions with residents this semester have been mostly positive.

“Compared to last year, I think students are being a lot more cooperative and following the rules a little bit better with the added on policies. So far it’s been good, just a great turn out,” she said.

Despite the pandemic, there weren’t any less RA applications this semester, according to Boardman.

“In the fall, there’s usually about 20 to 25 positions that we hire. I would say it was about even,” he said.

Boardman acknowledged the extra responsibility RAs face, but was optimistic for the future.

“The new RAs are like a ball of fire,” he said. “They almost make it too easy to train them, and that goes for our returning RAs as well. I think it’s just their willingness to help people, and COVID kind of gives them (an opportunity) to.”

Kurtenbach and McClintock  both spoke of their eagerness to embrace their new responsibilities

“It really just comes down to stepping up and helping,” Kurtenbach said. “We are a form of leadership within the dorms.”