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Resident assistants learned more about fire safety during RA training on campus. Firefighters from Macomb Fire Department provided hands-on demonstrations and discussed fire safety.
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Resident assistants learned more about fire safety during RA training on campus. Firefighters from Macomb Fire Department provided hands-on demonstrations and discussed fire safety.
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Staff Training Preps Hall Staff for New Year

August 17, 2015

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MACOMB, IL -- Even though the start of school is still one week away, over 110 Western Illinois University students gave up the last few weeks of their summer vacation to return to campus to participate in an intensive two-week hall staff training.

According to Sarah Hart, assistant director of residence life for University Housing and Dining Services (UHDS), the purpose of resident assistant (RA) training is to equip hall staff with the knowledge and skills to oversee the daily operations of residence life, and to learn how to build community and a sense of belonging on their respective floors. The RAs-in-training heard from motivational speakers and housing leaders on such topics as rapport building, community building, confrontation skills, academic resources and crisis response.

"We also hold numerous role-playing exercises during training to get staff comfortable with helping our students through a variety of issues," she explained. "The students we have selected to serve as leaders in our halls are simply outstanding. They are ready to help students, and ready to make a difference."

The students also had the opportunity to witness a fire training simulation, hosted by the Macomb Fire Department. Chief Andy Taylor and Macomb firefighters constructed mock rooms to demonstrate how quickly a fire can spread and the purpose, and effectiveness, of sprinkler systems. Taylor also discussed fire safety.

This year's training also featured guest speaker Nick Allen, a WIU alumnus and former RA, who discussed the value of creating memorable communities and connecting students to WIU.

"At the end of our training, it's our hope that each RA is equipped with the ability to maintain active, involved communities and safe and academically supportive floors," Hart added.

Students are selected through an application process, which begins each semester. Following an application review, those individuals selected to move forward participate in group and individual interviews. Applicants must possess a grade point average of 2.4 or higher. Prior to the summer training, the selected students must complete a two-credit hour leadership course which is designed to teach them more about the position and what it means to be hall staff employee.

Taylor Windbiel, a junior forensic chemistry major from Hampshire, IL, has served as a resident assistant for two years. This year, she will live and work in Thompson Hall.

"I became an RA because I like to help people and wanted to meet more friends and get more involved on campus," Windbiel said. "I am excited to meet my new residents, and begin building our community."

Aaron Blakley, a sophomore engineering major from Chicago, IL, is a first-year RA, working in Tanner Hall.

"My freshman transition to college was very hard. I want to be the person that other lost freshman can go to and help them get acclimated to campus," he explained. "You think you know what you are getting into when you go to college, but many people don't really know."

For more information on residence life at WIU, contact Director of Residence Life Mishelle Oaks at (309) 298-3352 or MD-Oaks@wiu.edu or Hart at (309) 298-2327 or SM-Hart@wiu.edu.



Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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