Spring Break
CAs Should Focus On Meaningful Activities
Amanda Beardsworth
Issue date: 11/1/07 Section: Commentary
Community assistants are a part of almost every undergraduate's life at UConn. Yet it seems CAs handle their position in varying ways. Students hope that they get a "good" or "cool" CA that will let small misdemeanors slide. Some students have great relationships with their CAs, even becoming friends while others may barely know their CA's name. According to the university's CA position description, a CA's "primary purpose" is to "support the educational and personal goals of students" within a given community. While this sounds like an ideal position meant to foster community bonds, the realities of a CA's position are different. The university's current system not only does little to promote community relationships but it also puts CAs in positions that are uncomfortable and unreasonable.
CAs are required to "provide activities and programs that encourage and support student academic … wellness … and life skills." Evidence of these programs can be seen around campus dorms; aromatherapy sessions, exercise how-to demos and alcohol and drug awareness seminars. CAs need attendance to these events so they decide the best way to have a high turnout is to lure students in with free pizza or candy. The problem is not only that money is wasted on these events and food but that they do little or nothing to promote community bonding. Students often show up just to receive the free food before high-tailing it out of the event. But the biggest problem is that a majority of students don't bother to show up at all.
For freshmen students, some events and activities may prove to be important. CA programs can be opportunities to meet other new students and understand more about college life. Events such as "Managing Stress in College" can certainly help an adjusting freshman with workload regulation. Yet, the problem with these events is that they all seem to be designed in the same way. Clearly, asking juniors and seniors to give up "The Hills" to learn about 'good study habits' is absolutely ridiculous. There should be no surprise that attendance to these events is so low. At a time when students are coming into adulthood it is insulting and demeaning to be asked to learn about 'safe sex' or other topics typically covered in ninth-grade health class. Instead of these silly activities, CAs should create a system of true communication with their floors. Floor Web sites could post monthly themes, contests, games and events. A CA floor Web site could prove very effective if students felt they had a say in what their floor participated in. Students themselves should choose events for their floors that would actually foster community development such as inter-floor sports tournaments and other contests. Rather than just being invited to pre-determined programs students themselves should decide community events.
CAs are required to "provide activities and programs that encourage and support student academic … wellness … and life skills." Evidence of these programs can be seen around campus dorms; aromatherapy sessions, exercise how-to demos and alcohol and drug awareness seminars. CAs need attendance to these events so they decide the best way to have a high turnout is to lure students in with free pizza or candy. The problem is not only that money is wasted on these events and food but that they do little or nothing to promote community bonding. Students often show up just to receive the free food before high-tailing it out of the event. But the biggest problem is that a majority of students don't bother to show up at all.
For freshmen students, some events and activities may prove to be important. CA programs can be opportunities to meet other new students and understand more about college life. Events such as "Managing Stress in College" can certainly help an adjusting freshman with workload regulation. Yet, the problem with these events is that they all seem to be designed in the same way. Clearly, asking juniors and seniors to give up "The Hills" to learn about 'good study habits' is absolutely ridiculous. There should be no surprise that attendance to these events is so low. At a time when students are coming into adulthood it is insulting and demeaning to be asked to learn about 'safe sex' or other topics typically covered in ninth-grade health class. Instead of these silly activities, CAs should create a system of true communication with their floors. Floor Web sites could post monthly themes, contests, games and events. A CA floor Web site could prove very effective if students felt they had a say in what their floor participated in. Students themselves should choose events for their floors that would actually foster community development such as inter-floor sports tournaments and other contests. Rather than just being invited to pre-determined programs students themselves should decide community events.
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Joshua
posted 11/02/07 @ 4:21 AM EST
I have to applaud this article for raising several CA related issues. A CA is by definition in a complicated position, being a student, a mentor, an advisor and indeed when necessary an enforcer of the University's rules. (Continued…)
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