Olivia Badalamenti
Contributing Writer
obadalamenti@murraystate.edu

Life in the Residential Colleges, like almost all aspects of the college experience, has been changing and adapting since the start of the pandemic. Despite the challenge, those in the Housing Department are trying new and safe ways to create a memorable time for their residents.  

Junior biology/ pre-optometry major Ty Allen works as a residential adviser in H.C. Franklin Hall. As a returning RA, Allen understands the impact COVID-19 has had on the residents in his building.

 “Everyone is getting the COVID-19 fatigue and cabin fever,” Allen said. 

Residential colleges have had to adjust their traditional ways of getting their students involved, as well as follow the Racer Safe and Healthy Guidelines. Allen said despite efforts to follow guidelines and maintain involvement via Zoom, virtual programs have not gained as much attendance as in-person events in previous semesters.

Now the residential colleges are focusing on in-person activities and implementing new programming techniques to increase student involvement. Residential colleges will begin tabling in the common areas of their building using a method called drive-through programming. 

“We are employing the new drive-through programming type idea because that way you can get residents’ attention as they walk through the door and as they go to their room, and they see you right there,” Allen said. “It’s more of an attention grabber as opposed to a poster on the wall.”

This program style allows those who may not have time for an engaging sit-down lecture forum to interact with their RAs. This also benefits those who have a majority of their classes on Zoom and spend less time walking past posters that advertise programs. Residents will also be using QR codes to fill out forms to track attendance and contact-tracing to report to the Housing Department. 

Another way RAs are adapting is through intentional interactions. This past semester, fourth floor RAs in Franklin set up a cooler directly in front of the elevators to pass out ice cream sandwiches to residents. 

 “It is important to create intentional interactions with your residents,” Allen said. “We want to be seen and we also want them to know that they are seen.”

Allen has recognized the difficulty in maintaining an identity as a personable resource. The loss of in-person interactions and implementation of safety guidelines has made RAs  be seen as the “mask police.” This decrease in staff interactions with residents has changed the perception of RAs. 

“Now we are seeing a lack of cohesion in campus resources because they are not being able to see those people normally like they would or they just feel discouraged,” Allen said. “Being able to put a face to a name really is such an important aspect of an identity and a relationship that no one really understood until we couldn’t see what someone looked like.”

Another form of interaction the Residential Colleges are implementing is spontaneous programming. These programs are unplanned events that easily spark the attention of residents. This could be anything from a movie in the common areas to playing ping-pong. 

Programs hosted by Residential Colleges vary, but all follow the same programming criteria. The last program Allen hosted was a diversity program called “A Night of Language and Culture.” Allen, a native Spanish speaker, discussed how to learn conversational Spanish and taught residents about Latin American culture and its effect on society. It was an in-person event that hosted eight people and followed safety guidelines. 

Like the programs in Franklin, Regents Hall has implemeted COVID-19 safe programming. Freshman civil and sustainable engineering major Kenny Rose, president of Regents Residential College Council, has seen RAs in Regents come up with creative ways to engage residents. 

“Regents, like a lot of other colleges, have been working really hard, especially the RAs, to create programs that are fun and that also follow COVID-19 guidelines,” Rose said. “We have had events like painting, and the RAs are very good at making sure everyone is abiding by these guidelines and that everyone has a mask on at all times.”

Housing is still trying to maintain a sense of normalcy and still participates in events like intramurals. 

“The intramurals have required everyone to wear a mask and to make sure the equipment is wiped off each time before the next team or game,” Rose said. “At Regents College I know that we try to offer everyone the ability to participate in intramurals like volleyball, dodgeball and even kickball last semester.” 

As some COVID-19 restrictions begin to be lifted Residential Colleges are doing what they can to keep residents safe while still remaining social.