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Old Gold&Black WAKE FOREST’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1916
VOL. 103, NO. 6
T H U R S DAY, F E B RUA RY 2 2 , 2 018 “Cover s the campus like the magnolias”
RAs debate position benefits Residence Life and Housing suffered a drop in applications
As you walk in the door, you’re greeted by the smiling face of someone who’s name has already popped up in your email inbox. This person has made everyone on your hall a personalized nameplate for their door, moved in weeks earlier than you did, and has been extensively trained to do their job. Employed by the Office of Residence Life and Housing (RLH), resident advisers (RAs), are key figures within the Wake Forest community present to support students of all ages throughout their time on campus. Due to a reduced number of applications, RLH extended the deadline for next year’s RA applications at the end of January. Interviews were conducted this past weekend and decisions will be made at the end of next week. For some, the reduced number of applications reflects a deeper sentiment on-campus about RLH and the position of an RA.
This year’s TEDx promotes outside-thebox thinking Eight speakers come together to inspire the next generation
BY KELLIE SHANAGHAN shanke15@wfu.edu Staff Writer
Everyone recalls when they moved into their first college dorm, officially known as Residence Halls, at Wake Forest. A bundle of excited nerves knot in your stomach while waiting in the line of cars inching towards south campus. As you finally arrive and step into the North Carolina humidity, a flurry of thoughts rush by; you hope your roommate is clean, your hall mates are interesting and that Bostwick is not as bad as the Facebook group claims.
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BY JONATHAN TRATTNER Staff Writer tratjd17@wfu.edu Many have speculated that potential applicants may have been deterred due to how RLH treats employees, as all RAs are paid the same despite wide discrepancies between number of residents, hours worked and job expectations. In addition, students who have been RAs for a year get no guarantee for employment in following years. “There is a degree of uncertainty because you have to reapply,” former RA and junior Kari Burgess said. “I didn’t go through the process because I was only an RA for a year. Current RAs are given priority, but depending on the applicant pool and your own record, it’s entirely possible to lose the job.” A commonly-cited reason for wanting to be an RA is a stipend and reduced housing rates. However, in comparison to other schools, being an RA at Wake Forest does not necessarily pay off.
Graphics courtesy of Heather McCauley & Julianne Zhu/Old Gold & Black
According to the RLH website, RAs receive an annual stipend of $5,000, before taxes. They also receive a discounted housing rate, meaning they do not pay the full $5,367 per semester that a standard single room costs. At Duke University, all RAs receive a unspecified stipend, free on-campus housing and a meal allotment. With a typical, air-conditioned single costing $5,610 per semester, the job of an RA at Duke already has a larger payout benefit than Wake Forest.
At University of Notre Dame, all RAs are granted a waiver for the fees of room and board, as well as a waiver for a meal plan and laundry service. This renumeration is valued at roughly $16,000 per year. With Wake Forest’s RAs being compensated less than RAs at other comparable universities, the appeal of applying for the RA position decreases. Another deterrent was the length and intensity of the application. Students applying for the RA position complete an application before participating in an individual interview and a group interview. If chosen for the position, all RAs attend two weeks of comprehensive training prior to move-in in the fall and in addition, new RAs must participate in a three-credit-hour, semester-long class.
See RA, Page 6
This past Saturday, Feb. 17, students, faculty, and staff from Wake Forest University — along with community members from the Winston-Salem area — gathered together to listen to speakers from all over the world share their expertise at TEDxWakeForestU. From the start, the atmosphere brimmed with anticipation and excitement as Arthur Willson, the event’s Lead Organizer and Student Curator, introduced the event and the year’s theme, “The Broken Box.” Following the event, Willson described a brainstorming session where a member of the organizing team discussed the importance of thinking outside the box. “Why are there boxes in the first place?” the team asked as the conversation shifted. An urge to think differently became what Willson describes as an exploration into the question of “what are those boxes that are keeping us from our full potential, and what innovative ways can we — not only think outside of them — but completely break them, shaping our futures and also the future of the world?” This year’s TEDx topics ranged from how to empower entrepreneurs worldwide to the potential for blockchain technology; from human capacity to solve problems aided by artificial intelligence to combatting neurodegenerative diseases with improvisational dance; from ending human trafficking to redefining the medical delivery system and living life to its fullest potential. Presenters examined new and old problems from different perspectives to empower us to redefine the future for ourselves and for others. “I was really impressed with the topic variability and aesthetic presentation of the TEDx event,” freshman William Zhang said. Following his talk, Fred Blackburn, the Executive Vice President of Booz Allen Hamilton, discussed how his topic related to the overall theme of the event. “I give talks about [Artificial Intelligence] a fair bit, and I think [this notion of thinking outside of the box is] about getting past the fear; [to start] thinking about the possibilities,” Hamilton said.
See TEDx, Page 4