Four students step into administrative shoes
Students replace former full-time positions in GOAL?program, residence life program
Marieke van der Vaart
Issue date: 9/10/09 Section: News
In two well-lit and wood-panelled rooms in Grewcock Student Union, G.O.A.L and residence life programming and recreation services employees work at computers. With professional, fo-cused demeanors they type away - a typical workplace on campus.
On tables around the offices, detailed schedules show scattered work hours carefully distributed throughout the week so these full-time students can fit their 20 hours in too.
That's what sets this workplace apart.
For the four students who took over college administrative positions from full-time employees, these two rooms represent unprecedented leadership opportunities and a whole lot of work.
With Father Beauchamp's retirement from the G.O.A.L. program last semester, two students al-ready involved with the program took over his leadership position with director of student activi-ties Rebekah Dell coming alongside as their advisor.
Senior Sarah Howard, G.O.A.L. student director, said very little has changed in the program it-self.
"I get an office with a window [now]?" she said, laughing. "It's all internal."
Two students have also taken over Ashley LaCarter's full-time position with her responsibilities split between senior Josh Trojniak and sophomore Erin Alderson.
Together, Trojniak and Alderson lead spirit events on campus, coordinate with the student activi-ties board, facilitate dorm activities and lead heath and wellness campaigns on campus. Trojniak says he knows how demanding the job will be.
"We will rely heavily on students and that's a good thing," he said. "If we try to do everything we're going to get burned out -- we'll need the help of other students to make the job work."
Balancing homework and work could also challenge students, Dell says.
"It could be a problem, but we know that school comes first," she said. "I meet regularly with students to check in that the work is not too overwhelming."
Students and administrators recognize the benefits of the takeover.
On tables around the offices, detailed schedules show scattered work hours carefully distributed throughout the week so these full-time students can fit their 20 hours in too.
That's what sets this workplace apart.
For the four students who took over college administrative positions from full-time employees, these two rooms represent unprecedented leadership opportunities and a whole lot of work.
With Father Beauchamp's retirement from the G.O.A.L. program last semester, two students al-ready involved with the program took over his leadership position with director of student activi-ties Rebekah Dell coming alongside as their advisor.
Senior Sarah Howard, G.O.A.L. student director, said very little has changed in the program it-self.
"I get an office with a window [now]?" she said, laughing. "It's all internal."
Two students have also taken over Ashley LaCarter's full-time position with her responsibilities split between senior Josh Trojniak and sophomore Erin Alderson.
Together, Trojniak and Alderson lead spirit events on campus, coordinate with the student activi-ties board, facilitate dorm activities and lead heath and wellness campaigns on campus. Trojniak says he knows how demanding the job will be.
"We will rely heavily on students and that's a good thing," he said. "If we try to do everything we're going to get burned out -- we'll need the help of other students to make the job work."
Balancing homework and work could also challenge students, Dell says.
"It could be a problem, but we know that school comes first," she said. "I meet regularly with students to check in that the work is not too overwhelming."
Students and administrators recognize the benefits of the takeover.
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