Pitch Ideas
Residential Student life association
- So many different complains
- What they do and why they exist
- How they help students
- Do students know of it
- How much student advocacy has the RSLA seen?
Security & Safety
- How safe is our campus?
Early Draft 200-300 words
Feature
The Residential Student Life Association or simply the RSLA. Is an organization for on campus residence to voice concerns and ideas about the community. As well as for Residential advisors to take the concerns of their students to the RSLA.
This Association has an executive board with a president, vice president, secretary, and an undergraduate student government representative. All positions are open to the undergraduate population, to uphold and obtain. The association also has RSLA Advisors. All UNE undergraduates can attend meetings which are every other Wednesday 2pm in Feather man; classroom 121. The RSLA is also intertwined with the National Association of College and University Residence Halls(NACURH). This is according to the RSLA which is a division of student affairs at the University of New England. From the constitution of the RSLA “The purpose of this organization shall be to be a liaison between the residential students and the Office of Housing and Residential/Commuter Life and the Dean of Students at the University of New England. RSLA shall serve as a medium through which residential students may voice their concerns, opinions, and comments on the state of residential life at the university” according to the RSLA constitution dated 2019. This entity is active on the UNE and lives as a tool for residential students.
Developing Draft 500-600 words
The Residential Student Life Association or simply the RSLA. Is an organization for on campus residence to voice concerns and ideas about the community. As well as for Residential advisors to take the concerns of their students to the RSLA.
This Association has an executive board with a president, vice president, secretary, and an undergraduate student government representative. All positions are open to the undergraduate population, to uphold and obtain. The association also has RSLA Advisors. All UNE undergraduates can attend meetings which are every other Wednesday at 2pm in Featherman class room 121. The RSLA is also intertwined with the National Association of College and University Residence Halls(NACURH). This is according to the RSLA which is a division of student affairs at the University of New England. From the constitution of the RSLA “The purpose of this organization shall be to be a liaison between the residential students and the Office of Housing and Residential/Commuter Life and the Dean of Students at the University of New England. RSLA shall serve as a medium through which residential students may voice their concerns, opinions, and comments on the state of residential life at the university” according to the RSLA constitution dated 2019. This entity is active at UNE and lives as a tool for residential students. As well as the RA’s “Resident advisors may bring the concerns of their residents or ideas to RSLA general assembly meetings if their residents are unable to attend.” This is of course according to the RSLA, Division of Student Affairs, UNE Website.
In an interview with Alex Petro-Stone one of the Area coordinators at UNE is also one of the advisors for the RSLA. She’s a graduated undergraduate student with a degree in Biology. She shared some enlightening and important bits of information about the association. The purpose and what they actually do, including but not limited to the history and how the association operates. One of the main topics that was repeated during the interview. During, and after COVID-19 the association lost a lot of publicity, members,and as well as tradition. But are slowly rehabilitating themselves, through instagram and having meetings every other Wednesday at 2pm in Featherman Hall’s classroom. There was at least a representative for the RSLA on each floor in each dorm on UNE’s campus before COVID-19 knocked this out. She said the true origins of the club was “Students decided that they wanted to create it so they can have a voice beyond their RA’s. Alex says, and that now they don’t really care about students that are members residing on the same floors. Just because they can keep it going and get more publicity through instagram, as well as the weekly news letters the AC’s send out to their area of dorms, which helps spread the purpose of the RSLA to the public of UNE. The constitution of the RSLA has been updated to make it more simplified and condensed so it can according to Alex be used better and easier to understand in the summer of 2023.
Apparently the RA’s are supposed to be sharing it during their first floor meetings so that residences can run for it. But the RA’s haven’t been sharing it for whatever reason. So Alex states that “We rather have more student voices, regardless of being on the same floor” this is for helping bring the attendance up since COVID-19. Anyone is welcome at the meetings and Alex also stated a lot “Come to our meeting” anyone who is a student living on campus can come and are welcome. In comparison to another large student run association the Undergraduate Student Government the RSLA does similar things and different in others like Alex said that “Compared in some ways the USG seems a lot more formal in USG, RSLA is a bit more laid back. Anyone can come to RSLA, and say they have the program idea.” this shows that student advocacy on the Biddeford campus is very much alive and is coming back after being a bit put aside from COVID-19.
Workshop Draft 760 words
Feature Creature RSLA
The Residential Student Life Association (RSLA). Is an organization for on campus residence to voice concerns and ideas about the community. As well as for Residential advisors to take the concerns of their students to the RSLA.
This Association has an executive board with a president, vice president, secretary, and an undergraduate student government representative. All positions are open to the undergraduate population, to uphold and obtain. The association also has RSLA Advisors. All UNE undergraduates can attend meetings which are every other Wednesday at 2pm in Featherman class room 121. The RSLA is also intertwined with the National Association of College and University Residence Halls(NACURH). This is according to the RSLA which is a division of student affairs at the University of New England. From the constitution of the RSLA “The purpose of this organization shall be to …RSLA shall serve as a medium through which residential students may voice their concerns, opinions, and comments on the state of residential life at the university” according to the RSLA constitution dated 2019. This entity is active at UNE and lives as a tool for residential students. As well as the RA’s “Resident advisors may bring the concerns of their residents or ideas to RSLA general assembly meetings if their residents are unable to attend.” This is of course according to the RSLA, Division of Student Affairs, UNE Website.
In an interview with Alex Petro-Stone one of the Area coordinators at UNE is also one of the advisors for the RSLA. She’s a graduated undergraduate student with a degree in Biology. She shared some enlightening and important bits of information about the association. One of the main topics that was repeated during the interview. During, and after COVID-19 the association lost a lot of publicity, members,and as well as tradition. But are slowly rehabilitating themselves, through instagram and having meetings every other Wednesday at 2pm in Featherman Hall’s classroom. There was at least a representative for the RSLA on each floor in each dorm on UNE’s campus before COVID-19 knocked this out. She said the true origins of the club was “Students decided that they wanted to create it so they can have a voice beyond their RA’s. Alex says, and that now they don’t really care about students that are members residing on the same floors. Just because they can keep it going and get more publicity through instagram, as well as the weekly news letters the AC’s send out to their area of dorms. The constitution of the RSLA has been updated to make it more simplified and condensed so it can according to Alex be used better and easier to understand in the summer of 2023.
Apparently the RA’s are supposed to be sharing it during their first floor meetings so that residences can run for it. But the RA’s haven’t been sharing it for whatever reason. So Alex states that “We rather have more student voices, regardless of being on the same floor” this is for helping bring the attendance up since COVID-19. In comparison to another large student run association the Undergraduate Student Government the RSLA does similar things and different in others like Alex said that “Compared in some ways the USG seems a lot more formal in USG, RSLA is a bit more laid back. But have worked with the USG in the past. Anyone can come to RSLA, and say they have the program idea.” This shows that student advocacy on the Biddeford campus is very much alive and is coming back after being a bit put aside from COVID-19.
Alex also stated in the interview that the RSLA has done collaboration with the National Association of College and University Residence Halls(NACURH). NACURH have always been meeting through a virtual conference, one of the main questions or topics of these have been how to get engagement back up in the clubs, as there has been a lack of this since COVID-19.
Solutions and examples of issues that have been brought to the RSLA in the past are laundry issues and hampers; they purchased hampers for people to put dry or wet clothes in, instead of the clothes being thrown anywhere. Paid for a new bulletin board for RA’s and have been talking about getting cameras up in the halls to help prevent damages charges from people breaking things or putting recycling and trash in the wrong areas.
“If someone brings a concern we can usually work with them to find a solution.” – Alex AC Advisor to RSLA.
2/23/2024 Revised Draft 708 words
Residential Student Life Association looking to bring up Student Engagement: After COVID-19
By: Phoebe Carrona
At the University of New England; the RSLA is an organization for on campus residence to voice concerns and ideas about the community. As well as for Residential advisors to take the concerns of their students to the RSLA.
All positions are open to the undergraduate population, to uphold and obtain. All UNE undergraduates can attend meetings. (RSLA website; UNE).
In an interview with Alex Petro-Stone one of the advisors for the RSLA. She’s a graduated undergraduate student with a degree in Biology. She said the true origins of the club was “Students decided that they wanted to create it so they can have a voice beyond their RA’s.” One of the main topics that was repeated during the interview. During, and after COVID-19 the association lost a lot of publicity, members,and as well as the tradition of attendance.
RSLA is slowly rehabilitating themselves, through instagram and having meetings every other Wednesday at 2pm in Featherman Hall’s classroom.(UNE website) There was at least a representative for the RSLA on each floor in each dorm on UNE’s campus before COVID-19 knocked this out. Now Alex states that “We rather have more student voices, regardless of being on the same floor” (Alex, RSLA Advisor).
Apparently the RA’s are supposed to be sharing it during their first floor meetings so that residents can run or engage in the association. But the RA’s haven’t been sharing it for whatever reason. Using the RA’s and AC’s is for helping bring the attendance up since COVID-19. The AC’s including them in their weekly news letters has helped get the association public notice. The most important way to bring back engagement is as Alex says “Come to our meetings; anyone who is a student living on campus can come and are welcome.” (Alex, RSLA Advisor).
RSLA has done a lot of collaboration with the National Association of College and University Residence Halls(NACURH) “Last year I attended a conference with them, hosted presentations and sessions on whatever topic they were selected for. They have always been a virtual conference. Different webinars hosted around RSLS. The webinars were about ‘How to get engagement back up in the RSLA type clubs’.”(Alex RSLA Advisor).
Isaac Randall, a senior, and a Marine Affairs major (he/him). He is one of the 4th floor RA of Sokokis Hall, stated that student advocacy is “Very big, the USG does a lot. RA role there is a lot of variety of issues that gets brought up and it goes up the ladder. Whether it’s the AC or goes up to the director. They try to make it better for the students”(Isaac, Sokokis 4th floor RA).
In regards to how the school takes care of student issues, this also incorporates how the RSLA helps as it has been involved with this chain of tools for students to contact about different issues. Alex said that “Compared in some ways the USG seems a lot more formal in USG, RSLA is a bit more laid back. But have worked with the USG in the past. Anyone can come to RSLA, and say they have the program idea.” This shows that student advocacy on the Biddeford campus is very much alive and has further potential to come back after being squashed because of COVID-19.
Solutions and examples of issues that have been brought to the RSLA in the past are laundry machine issues, such as broken ones as well as buying communal hampers; where the RSLA purchased hampers for people to put dry or wet clothes in, instead of the clothes being thrown anywhere.
Paid for a new bulletin board for RA’s and have been talking about getting cameras up in the halls to help prevent damages charges from people breaking things or putting recycling and trash in the wrong areas. Isaac said in response to a question about an issue that has been brought to the RSLA by the RA’s “yes, with the buildings something’s broken, washing machines and dryers.” (Isaac, Sokokis 4th floor RA).
“If someone brings a concern we can usually work with them to find a solution.” – Alex AC Advisor to RSLA.
Workshop Experience Reflection
What I found helpful was the feedback more about the context of where my Feature takes place like putting UNE in the first paragraph. Also what I put into my essay was repetitive because I didn’t know that I had repeated myself which led to big paragraphs. As well as what someone could find on the website doing their own research and what my feature could give them perspectives that didn’t include the website’s info. My draft had hit around 800 words well over 750. So pinpointing what was repetitive was probably the most helpful feedback, so I could rework it to include my other interview with an RA into the mix. Another very helpful part of the peer review was about what my angle was about the lack of student engagement and how COVID changed the engagement in the RSLA.
Feature Reflection
Reflecting on my experience of writing this feature. I think that I would definitely go about it differently next time. But this last time I started by writing down what I already knew about the RSLA from the website and that helped me come up with more questions about the RSLA and that could help my feature. I would definitely interview more people next time; including the two that I did talk with. I’d talk with someone in housing like the director or someone else besides just an AC. As well as I’d find representatives from the floors and talk with them. My drafting process I felt kinda lost in, and a bit mixed up. Partially because I’m used to narrative writing and classroom academic essays then writing using a Lede and a nut graph. As well as which i found with word count. I went over really fast to about 800 words, maybe more. In journalism there are stricter deadlines along with the word count. I think I learned a lot about what a journalist thinks like and looks for and spaces out their work like with interviewing and writing a draft. I didn’t draft it now that I look back the way a journalist would. I was looking at writing for length over content. I think workshopping helped a bit in finding what I was just simply using for length over content. Because when I went to revise it. Most of what I cut was what I was working into thinking about length and I felt like I added. A lot more content and context that helps tell my features a little better. There are definitely more things I could probably work on but I think it is a lot better now compared to before it got workshopped. Overall I do think I would change my format and ask more in depth questions for a longer period of time. I would also find a clearer perspective, because when I started interviewing the prospective I thought I was looking for and getting as, wasn’t what was actually going on in the feature and in the RSLA to the degree and it was other factors like COVID. I do think that the workshopping did help a lot with what I had already pinpointed what I needed help with and having a third party look at it besides my stressed assignment driven, and word tumbling brain.
