Monday September 24, 2001

Student security not a factor in decision, officials say

Residence Life has hired two new resident assistants to oversee more than 40 students living in a hotel near the UA, in anticipation that some students may have to live there for the entire fall semester.

The two RAs went on duty Wednesday at the Sheraton Four Points University Plaza Hotel, 1900 E. Speedway Blvd. Students are being housed there due to a shortage of dorm rooms caused by a record number of incoming freshmen and returning residents.

Patrick Call, associate director of Residence Life, said the new RAs were chosen from an "alternative pool" created when Residence Life hired RAs for regular dorms this summer.

Call said he hopes that placing the new RAs at the Four Points will help create a more dorm-like environment for students living there.

"We wanted the environment of a residence hall," Call said. "The presence of RAs will enhance a feeling of community in the hotel."

Call said only two RAs were required to fulfill the needs of students in the Four Points. He said with 40-50 students living in the hotel, two RAs give the hotel about the same ratio as many of the residence halls.

Heather Mitchell, an undeclared sophomore, is one of the new RAs at the hotel. She said her RA duties are "challenging" because of security precautions and distribution of students throughout the hotel.

Mitchell said students living in the hotel cannot leave their doors open to the hallway, as many on-campus students do. She also said not all students are housed on the same floor of the hotel, so RAs and students do not frequently pass each other in the halls.

"It's kind of hard to build a community," Mitchell said.

She said she enjoys being an RA at the hotel, even though it takes her longer to get to class than it did from La Paz Residence Hall, where she used to live.

"There are downfalls and there are things that are great," Mitchell said. She pointed out that while it takes her 15 to 20 minutes to walk to and from her classes, she gets to come home to a large bedroom and a private bathroom.

"I love it," said Mitchell. "I've only been an RA for two days so far, but I'm very excited."

Mariam Durrani, a systems engineering junior, is the other RA at the Four Points. Durrani is also a writer for the Daily Wildcat.

Jim Van Arsdel, director of Residence Life and University Housing, said student safety was not the reason for placing new RAs at the Four Points.

"This has absolutely nothing to do with safety," Van Arsdel said. "I'm not aware of a single (security) problem at the hotel."

Van Arsdel said the RAs were hired in part because Residence Life anticipates some students will stay in the hotel all semester.

"As we have permanent spaces in regular residence halls, we will permit someone from the Four Points to move," Van Arsdel said.

However, he said that spaces are clearing out "very slowly."

Van Arsdel said a few spaces on campus are available in converted dorm lounges, but that students living in the hotel would not be required to take those spaces.

"That is not something we are going to mandate," he said. "Those who want to stay in the hotel all fall are welcome to do so. We won't force them to move."