Students & RAs

The last few days have been filled with programs...

On Wednesday, the new Invisible Children organization had its first big event - a showing of The Rescue with Invisible Children roadies. Since I've worked with Invisible Children before, I helped the organization out a little bit - and of course attended this first big event. It was amazing!!! They had over 100 people attend. We ran out of room and had to bring chairs from another room into the section of the ballroom that they were using for the showing. After the showing, the roadies explained how students could get involved and help Invisible Children rescue Joseph Kony's child soldiers. And students stuck around, signed the Citizens Arrest Warrant cards, bought merchandise and asked for more information about Invisible Children. I was so proud and excited for the new Invisible Children organization. What a great way to start the organization!!!

Tonight, I was at a Fine Arts Showcase for Students for the Advancement of the Arts. I'm their advisor. The group wants to support arts education in public schools - raise awareness to funding problems and make sure all children have access to fine arts education. The goals of the showcase was to get the word about the organization out there, connect community groups and the student organization, and start raising awareness for the lack of funding for public school arts programs. We had seven performers and one artist who submitted paintings; there were also three speakers - two UNF faculty member and someone from a local community organization. We didn't necessarily fill the auditorium and we had some technical difficulties during a dance performance (the CD started skipping), but overall the event went well - especially for a first event. I was proud of my students and I'm excited to see where they'll go from here.

But not all events this week made me proud. Yesterday was College Prom, an event organized by an RA committee. I don't directly work with this committee but I decided to make an appearance to show support for my colleagues and the RAs who had worked on this event. I showed up fashionably late. When I got to the Multi Purpose Room where the event was being held, I saw several groups of RAs standing/dancing together. Off to the side were two residents. And that was it. The residents weren't dressed up because they hadn't known this event was going on - they'd just heard the music and came to check it out. I went over to the residents and started talking to them. We ended up dancing together. I suggested we go over to the group of RAs and join them - the girls agreed - we walked over there and... we couldn't get into the circle. The RAs seemed to have no interest in letting these residents join their group.
Yes, two RAs went over to the residents later and talked to them for a bit - but overall, the focus of the RAs wasn't to get residents involved. They seemed perfectly happy having an "RA Social."
Argh! This is exactly why I'm frustrated with our department. Yes, we want to be RA-focused but we need to remember that in the end we are here for residents!!!