2008 Woodie Awards
Incident Involving Alcohol Leaves R.A.s Without Jobs
Stephanie Baritz--Cornell Daily Sun (Cornell U.)
Issue date: 9/17/03 Section: Campus Life
- Page 1 of 2 next >
Being a college student and being responsible do not always go hand in hand, as several resident advisors (R.A.s) in Mary Donlon and Court Halls recently learned, after being fired by the university for violating regulations in an incident that occurred several weeks ago.
While exactly which rules were broken by the students remains unclear, Don King, in the office of student services, explained that "there were R.A.s that were found and it was substantiated that they violated both their expectations and responsibilities."
As to the nature of the violations, King admitted only that, "It was serious enough that it warranted relieving them from their positions."
Because the students were employed by community development of Campus Life, the university refused to disclose the names of the students involved and the reasons for their dismissal.
R.A.s are asked to leave their positions for a variety of reasons, King said. However, they are usually not forced to leave in groups as was the case with this incident.
Neither the administration nor any of the R.A.s contacted by The Sun would confirm the reasons for dismissal. According to freshmen living on the floors though, the incident involved underage drinking by these R.A.s employed by Cornell.
When asked what kinds of activities might constitute a violation, King mentioned that not being on call, failing to meet expectations and not providing sufficient programming could all suggest that an R.A. was not living up to his or her potential.
Serious infractions, such as those related to alcohol, would depend on the circumstances, according to King.
Resident advisors are permitted to drink in the dorms if they are 21 years or older and all of the people in the room are of age as well, according to King.
The vast majority of students living in the dorms where the incident took place, however, are freshmen and therefore, underage.
"Technically, they're not supposed to be drinking in the residence hall," King said. A large responsibility of being an R.A. is acting as a role model, he said, and drinking alcohol in the dorms is not exactly behavior that should be mimicked by those under 21.
While exactly which rules were broken by the students remains unclear, Don King, in the office of student services, explained that "there were R.A.s that were found and it was substantiated that they violated both their expectations and responsibilities."
As to the nature of the violations, King admitted only that, "It was serious enough that it warranted relieving them from their positions."
Because the students were employed by community development of Campus Life, the university refused to disclose the names of the students involved and the reasons for their dismissal.
R.A.s are asked to leave their positions for a variety of reasons, King said. However, they are usually not forced to leave in groups as was the case with this incident.
Neither the administration nor any of the R.A.s contacted by The Sun would confirm the reasons for dismissal. According to freshmen living on the floors though, the incident involved underage drinking by these R.A.s employed by Cornell.
When asked what kinds of activities might constitute a violation, King mentioned that not being on call, failing to meet expectations and not providing sufficient programming could all suggest that an R.A. was not living up to his or her potential.
Serious infractions, such as those related to alcohol, would depend on the circumstances, according to King.
Resident advisors are permitted to drink in the dorms if they are 21 years or older and all of the people in the room are of age as well, according to King.
The vast majority of students living in the dorms where the incident took place, however, are freshmen and therefore, underage.
"Technically, they're not supposed to be drinking in the residence hall," King said. A large responsibility of being an R.A. is acting as a role model, he said, and drinking alcohol in the dorms is not exactly behavior that should be mimicked by those under 21.