Douglas Gerard Pace - Fon Wonh , TX Mittie Bernice Parks - Scranton, AR Pury Lynn Parr - N. Little Rock, AR Ernest Wilbur Parsons - Searcy, AR James William ~arce - Weltev reden Park , South Africa Darrin Keith ~rry - Houston, TX Robin Leigh Phillips - Memphis, TX Terri Dawn Phillips - Tuscaloosa , AL Jim Neal Phipps - Rolla, MO Deborah Ann Pipkin - Farmington, MO Luke Frank Pittman - Gruver, TX Wade Lynn Poe - Mountain Home, AR Cherie Annette Poynot - Slidell , LA Susan Michelle Privett - Downers Grove, IL Lilliam M. Quiros - San Jose, Costa Rica Lynn Marie Rardin - Flint , MI Margaret Elizabeth Rawlins - Clarksville, TN Lori Dawn Reed - Mt. Dora , FL Janis Blair Reynolds - Dyersburg, TN Lisa Renee Reynolds - Dover, AR Marietta Kaye Ridge - Little Rock, AR Ronald Edwards Ritchie - Mons, Belgium 256Juniors Pace - Ritchie The responsibility of an RA I f, by chance, you came to college with a deep-rooted desire to professionally babysit, then maybe being a resident assistant was the job for you . While this might have emerged as a challenge that sent your heart racing, knowing a few facts could have possibly altered your palpitations. RAs were involved in serious role play. They were to be all things to all people: lobby monitor, desk worker, room checker, advisor, counselor, disciplinarian, and friend. Fulfilling all of these roles simultaneously was no easy feat, even for a college student. RAs were upperclassmen who could empathize with the freshmen and be quick to pass along a word of encouragement now and then. They, too, remembered what it was like being away from home for the first time. At times, RAs could pose as a menace to certain lifestyles, i.e. slobs. Roomcheck, perhaps the uttermost in dreaded weekly tasks, was not an effort to be undertaken by the weak-hearted individual. Therefore, RAs had to be tough - and fully equipped with waders, white gloves, and a plethera of pink slips. RAs could at least be lifethreatening in this attire. Wing members panicked at the sight and dust-busters suddenly would appear from out of no where... but, alas, it was always too late. The Surgeon-General had already canvassed the area in the interest of better health and left behind his Seal of Disapproval. Remember the wing meetings? When everyone had to go, even though no one wanted to? You might have already guessed it - the RA's responsibility was to gather up the masses and bring them in , even the declared couch potatoes who were already in wait of Letterman's late night antics . At this point , playing RA would not win you the Mr. Popularity award for the day, however, the fun was just beginning. After a brief devotional , a little " rules and regulations" session was inevitable as RAs would spill the standard, " Remember to sign out after 7 p.m., watch PDA in the lobby, and absolutely no shorts!!" Maybe RAs should have been given T-shirts (black and gold, of course) that said, " I don't make the rules ; I just enforce them." Perhaps RAs really deserved more credit. After all , remember the last time you had a serious problem at 2:30 a.m. (Jim wouldn't ask you out) and couldn't sleep, but just knew that your RA would like to listen? And she did. With a sleepy pat on the back, she gave you a couple of Kleenex , some good advice, and even her own teddy bear to sleep with. After all , wasn't making your bed twice a week a small price to pay for a local soul-mate? Yes, with a combination of a little sleep and a lot of love. RAs were pretty remarkable people. The next time they peek their head in the door at curfew to see your pretty little face , why not pass along your appreciation . ..after all, babysitters aren't so bad. Who knows; they may even stay and read you a bedtime story! - Karen Reynolds Curfew check-in. Resident assistants were required to do room checks at curfew. Sophomore Brian Lee, from Chester, VA , tries to sneak by Todd Miller, a senior from Pasadena, TX, so he won't be given late minutes. - photo by Bill Tripp.
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