SAs
friends, policemen
v.
page 2
by Nancy Stohs
This is the first of a two-part series on
UN L student assistants.
Be it over a cup of coffee in the cafeteria
or a lost key at 3:15 in the morning, there's
one person each of UNL's 7,000 residence
hall students is sure to encounter his floor's
student assistant (SA).
An SA is a conglomeration of counselor,
"model" student, answer man, and
policeman, to summarize how several SA's
described themselves.
With the exception of Abel Hall, they are
assigned one floor and are responsible for 38
to 50 students. For this; the University gives
them free room and board.
An SAs primary job is to be "in and
available". They may spend no more than
two weeknights and one weekend night off
their floors each week.
Besides being a student counselor, and a
sometimes disciplinarian, an SA must help
his floor government organize activities and
also has other regular dormitory staff duties.
He is expected to work about 20 hours a
week.
But counting the hours is impossible. As
one SA said, "You can never tell when
you're on the job and when you're off." For
example, one had 20 sick students at the
same time.
According to Ken Swerdlow, UNL
assistant housing director, a 2.5 minimum
grade point average and junior standing are
required for an SA job.
SAs are selected from written
applications, references (both student and
faculty) and interviews.
This year interviews will cover two
weekends, one for residence halls to
interview their SA choices after an initial
I
sruqen
G
ss
". .1 ( I
J
screening and the second for applicants to
interview with addtional dormitories.
Interviewing committees will be
composed of a residence hall director (RD),
an assistant RD and two SAs, all from the
same dormitory.
Final selection will be based on how the
applicant is judged on maturity,
dependability and leadership, said Swerdlow.
He added that the student's financial need is
never a factor in the decision.
About 70 to 75 SAs and ten alternates
will be selected for next year out of 250 to
300 applicants.
SAs that reapply usually are rehired,
Swerdlow said. About 25 quit at the end of
first semester each year. Often when an SA
quits he also is quiting school, he added.
According to former Assistnat Dean of
Student Affairs Helen Snyder, the UNL SA
program began in 1950 at Women's
Residence Hall, then the only women's dorm
on campus.
The first SAs were 12 students selected
from Mortar Board, the senior women's
honorary. Their role was to act as a "big
sister" to freshmen and to organize hall
activities. A similar program with three
men graduate students, called proctors, had
started for male students with the first men's
dormitories in 1948. They had much the
same duties as women SAs.
There are currently 12.1 SAs in 12
dormitories,
v. Originally intended to organize activities
with "not too much counseling," Snyder
said, the job evolved into a disciplinarian
when control of student life shifted from the
administration to the student. ''"
Now, as more and more restrictions (such
as curfew hours) are removed, it seems to be
more of a counseling job.
For example, a common response from
SAs when asked why they wanted the job
was: "I wanted to work with people."
Personal counseling experiences of SAs range
from giving advice on drop and add to urging
a runaway student to stay in school.
Out of 101 random students asked, all
described the ideal SA as someone "willing
to listen and help" or "easy to get along
with" or with an "ability to understand."
Only one described her floor's SA as an
"authority figure" and one as "my
superior." Otherwise-"just another friend."
But most of the 12 SAs interviewed said
they disliked the "dual role" they must play
that results in alienation from the students,
they say.
"The separation is sometimes subtle, but
it's there," one said.
Specific complaints ranged from "having
to enforce rules I don't believe in and think
are wrong" to more serious problems, such
as what to do about $300 damage to a
vandalized floor lounge.
Another said he was concerned about the
increased counseling responsibilities placed
on the SA. "If they want that kind of
professionalism," he said, "the housing
office should pay money to get the people
they want."
A week before school starts, SAs attend
31 orientation session., Through lecture and
r tjCffstionanswer groupstan SA learns about
(Hcajnpus rules and services.
.Most SAs said the session was informative
but felt it didn't offer enough.
One SA called the orientation material
"not very close to what's real" and said she'd
like to study actual problems discussed
instead.
Despite the criticism, most said they were
"not dissatisfied" with the job, but many
were in favor of adding tuition to their wage.
"It's so time-consuming," said one SA,
"more so than anyone ever dreamed."
All but two said they would do it again, if
they could.
When asked if he could ever see a day
when no SAs were needed, Swerdlow said,
"No. The change from high school and living
at home to coming to the University will
always necessitate someone being close and
available."
However, he said, if the students on a
floor draw up a plan and constitution,
indicating they were mature and responsible
enough to handle the jobs themselves, he'd
"give it a good, hard look."
Some SAs might even welcome such a
change-at least temporarily. "The hardest
thing about being an SA is that you can't get
away from it," said one. "No matter what
you do, you're always an SA."
MUN:
taking
another
identity
Participating in UNL's Model United Nations (MUN) means
to Pat Olson "taking on another identity for a few days,"
That's what makes potentially boring international affairs
appeal to him.
Olson, a UNL junior, is this year's MUN committee
chairman and will act as secretary-general of the 1973 sessions
this February 1, 2 and 3.
The problems that will be presented to the 95 MUN
delegations currently are vital ones in world politics, he said.
, But finding solutions to problems is secondary to talking,
arguing and feeling the part of a UN delegate, Olson said.
"When a delegate gets to the floor condemning Israel for its
aggression, and you're representing Israel and you get up to
defend your country."
Some delegates dress up, he said, and a few wear costumes
or battle fatigues.
Some problems the sixth annual conference wilt discuss
include those in the Middle East, North Ireland, South Africa's
apartheid racial policy, world population control, arms
limitations and outer space military rights.
Olson said MUN has grown larger. There are 35 more
delegations this year, which have four to six persons each, and
more outstate and high school delegates.
j "
Popular bunny dashes
Mickey's election hopes
by Tim Anderson
Although he once commanded the largest televised fan club
in the nation, Mickey Mouse apparently is losing his following
in Lancaster County.
The famous character, who during the '50s would pull
thousands of youngsters in front of the television for his daily
program, was unable to snag a single vote in November's
election.
However, his carrot-chomping competitor, Bugs Bunny,
fared better. Bugs received one vote for a University Board of
Regents seat.
Since neither cartoon character campaigned for a
congressional seat, a regents post or for the White House, there
is no reason for them to expect votes in the election.
No reason, that is, except that cartoon characters have
received votes in all major elections, according to Lancaster
County Election Commissioner Bill Davidson.
"It seems to be a rather sad game that some people like to
play at the polls. I would like to believe that voters would take
these responsibilities more seriously," Davidson said.
Secretary of State Allen Beerman said some people vote for
Bugs or Mickey "simply for a lark, some for an individual
protest."
Name recognition also plays an important part in the
number of write-in votes received referred to as the "scatter
vote," he said.
A check with the election commissioner showed that Bob
Devaney was the apparent winner of that battle. He received
14 votes for U.S. senator, five for University regent, and three
for First District congressman.
doily nebfosIcGn
Editor-in-Chief: Tom Lansworth. Managing Editor: Cheryl Weitcott
New Editor: Michael (O.J.) Nation.
Special Editor: Jim Gray. Sports Editor: Dave Slttler, Photography
Chief: Gall Folda. Night Newt Editor: Ron Cllngenpeel.
The Daily Nebraikan li written, edited end managed by itudentt at
the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. It It editorially independent of the
University faculty, admlnlttratlon and student body.
The Daily Nebraskan it published by the Publications Committee on
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday throughout the fall and
spring semesters except holidays and vacations.
Copyright 1973, The Daily Nebraikan. The Daily Nebraikan reserves
rights to ell editorial materiel produced by Its staff, excepting material
covered by another copyright
Second class postege paid at Lincoln, Nebraska.
Address: The Daily Nebraskan34 Nebraska Unlon14th & R
StreetsLincoln, Nebr. 68S08. Telephone: 4024722688.
.Mm,m
t L. JU Ail
' Y M .Ml'.
j:
:. :et.
t
.if HTM.-.-
That's what the PauUsts
ere ell about.
For more Information write:
Father Donald C. Casspbsil,
Uoglh 233.
415 West 50th Street
Now York, N.Y. 10019.
THE JOY OF LIVING
IS IN THE JOY OF .
Giving
Praying
Working
Sharing the joys
the laughter
the problems
tho success
and failures
knowing that where
there is human need
in the cities,
the suburbs,
in parishes,
on campus
the Paulist is thero
helping
counseling
rejoicing
in the presence
of the good
and in
the signs of hope
around us
daily nebraskan
thursday, january 25,1973
