Res-life expands emergency network

Author: Denizhan Duran

The Department of Public Safety introduced the Residential Life Helpline this fall in a response to organizational reshuffling in the College. The hotline is available after 5 p.m. weekdays and all-day on weekends and staffed by student dispatchers who try to find a solution to problems by finding a residential life member who is available to help.

"There have been 33 calls to the Res Life Help Line since we started it in September," said Director of Public Safety Lisa Boudah.

The service is still in its infancy and must be developed, and the dispatchers are still being trained. They are required to take notes on the types of calls they receive and to associate them with specific members of the residential staff. With new dispatchers still to be hired, Public Safety is continuously developing the system with the aid of both feedback and incoming questions.

One of the major changes that took place this year in the Commons system is "the change of five CRAs from the previous 10 and the increased responsibilities in the RA and the First-Year Counselor positions," Boudah said. As this change makes it harder for a student to reach a Residential Advisor in case of emergency, especially at nights or weekends, the College saw the necessity to create such a hotline.

Thus, the Helpline does not immediately provide a direct solution to a student's problem, but diverts one's call to someone who can.

Although it is a relatively new service, Boudah found that it has helped address student problems.

"So far we have found that the Res Life Help Line to be a helpful way for members of the res life staff to assist students," said Boudah. "The process has been positive and even at these early stages we've had some great teamwork and have already called upon a number of RAs and FYCs to assist students in the residence halls."