If you haven't already had the chance to read about this story, it might be worth your time:
http://www.jsonline.com/news/state/nov05/368030.asp
It combines various issues that are important to me: Resident Assistants (or Community Advisors :) ), religion and how the two can sometimes overlap. In this case, a Resident Assistant at UW Eau Claire was told by the administration that he would no longer be allowed to host gatherings in which students talked about the bible.
I had honestly not heard much about it until Mark Belling, of 1130 WISN brought this up on November 4, 2005. It brings up the argument about what role the hall plays in a resident assistant's life. Is the hall consider his or her home, or is it considered his or her office? Also, does being a Resident Assistant mean that you need to be viewed as being accessible for all students...does holding a religious meeting make you unapproachable to folks? What are your thoughts. Discuss!
Wordle Poetry Month: Day 15
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*Them Next Doors, Amirite?*
You tried to shame me
and chase me off this great porch
won't mince words: *fuck you*
*here are the rules*
*and beware ...
2 years ago
5 comments:
I think the discussion about an RA's personal time is valid. Hall staff members are often asked to walk a thin tightrope between the personal and professional. The RA in question, just like all other citizens, has the right and freedom to worship as he pleases. The question centers more about location and role than whether he can host a Bible study. As a staff member, he does hold a position of power in his building. Even if he, and the department/university, view some segment of his time as "personal," residents are unlikely to make that distinction. This individual has the right to host a Bible study, but not in an environment where he holds undue influence. Like it or not, an RA holds a position of power and influence in his/her/hir community, regardless of being officially "on the clock."
Good food for thought, Jim, I look forward to the responses...
I think Jes made some good points, but as someone who supervises CAs, part of me wants to say that whatever religious meeting a CA wants to have in their room with the door closed, as long as it doesn't influence the floor (the CA isn't soliciting on the floor or advertising on the floor), I would be fine with it. I have a CA who when she gets overwhelmed and while talking to me, will mention that 'God has a plan for her and that all I need to do is pray for strength.' I tell her to go ahead and that I agree with her. From where she is coming from, prayer to God will help her to feel at ease, therefore giving her to ability to handle the issues she comes across as a CA. I'm not going to stop her from mentioning that she is a Christian because she is a CA and I'm a hall director.
Bottomline - as long as what the CA does doesn't involve or make the floor uncomfortable, I don't see any problem with it. Honestly, most people from the floor wouldn't even know if the CA doesn't even mention it to the residents.
Thank you both for your posts. This case does bring up the issue about how open one can be about being a Christian. At what point is one so open about their religion that it makes other members of the floor or hall community feel uncomfortable? Will that in turn cause them not to want to approach their CA?
Definitely a tough question to answer, Jim. I think a lot of it comes down to how the student's actions and beliefs are portrayed at the expense of other beliefs. I have no problem with hall staff members believing in and practicing religion of any kind, especially if it helps them grow and do a better job. The thing that concerns me is offering multiple opportunities to be involved in Christianity WITHOUT providing educational and spiritual opportunities in other areas. It is a tough thing to do, but I believe it is important to expect hall staff members to present multiple, diverse possibilities when it comes to spirituality. To do anything else perpetuates the notion that everyone is the U.S. (or the Midwest, or at X institution) is Christian. This stereotype can isolate students who struggle with their spirituality, as well as those who identify with a different belief system.
Unfortunately in student services we have created this beastly culture of sensitivity that is now turning on us. An RA is clearly still a student, and limiting the rights of a student’s expression is counterintuitive. While I hate to sound cruel (well. actually..) we have made this bed, and we will be forced to sleep in it.
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