Student Support
Beth approaches you and says that they believe their roommate Courtney has an eating disorder.
Beth tells you that she seldom sees Courtney eating, but she can “pig out” late at night. Courtney often complains of feeling sick and goes to the restroom to “get sick.” Beth would like you to talk to her Courtney.
Beth remains in the room as you speak to Courtney.
Eating Disorder
Talk with the roommate
Potentially ask the concerned roommate to step out if needed.
Call the RD on call to, discuss possible follow-up (resident may not admit to having a problem during the first interaction, more conversations will likely be required),
Document the situation thoroughly
Utilize other resources on campus such as the Counseling Center
Be mindful that all genders can have body image issues
You are headed to your room after going home for the weekend. When doing so you see a hole in the wall in the stairwell.
Damage in Building
Take a photo of the damage
Write report and attach photo
Notify RD
RAs pass out painting materials and canvases for a paint night in their hall
Social
You are walking through the building and you see a group of students standing closely together with masks under their noses.
Refusing to follow
Ask them to put their masks on and take a couple steps away from each other
One of the students says they haven’t been exposed - explain that there is no way they would know that.
Another student explains that their mask is “on.” Explain that masks should be covering their mouths and noses and in order to live in the residence halls, they have signed a compact stating they would follow all guidelines outlined by the school.
Write a report if continued pushback.
You are conducting rounds of your building with your zone partner when you hear the emergency exit alarm sound.
Emergency Exits
Head over to the source of the noise.
If you see anyone around, ask them to stop/if they saw anything.
Call the contact RD to re-arm the door.
Wait by the door until contact RD arrives.
Write an IR with specific times so video review can be conducted.
You are on duty on a weeknight and receive a phone call from a concerned resident in regards to their friend.
The resident states that their friend is in an abusive relationship and that there is shouting and crying coming from the friend’s room. The resident informs the RA that they saw the abusive partner enter the room a few minutes ago.
You go to the room to talk to the resident of concern. Before knocking, you hear yelling. The partner is there and the resident says that everything is fine but they won’t make eye contact with you.
Relationship Abuse
Keep in mind personal safety when confronting the situation.
Keep calm- especially if there is a partner escalating the situation.
Contact the RD on call and Public Safety.
Support the student.
Be mindful that any gender can experience abuse.
Always make sure that you are safe; be careful not to confront something alone that you think could turn into a dangerous situation.
You as RAs are not responsible for solving the person's problems. You are encouraged to consult in every case involving even what seems like a slight degree of risk of harm to self or others.
Write an IR at the conclusion of the situation.
You are returning to your room after visiting the vending machine at 1am and hear an excessive amount of noise coming from a particular room. You know that this room has had previous problems with noise complaints.
Marijuana
If you cannot pinpoint it, notify contact RD and write report
If you can pinpoint to a couple rooms, call for someone to confirm and contact RD
When contact RD is there, stand in doorway to hold door open and make sure no crowd arrives
Write report
An RA partners with the tutoring and writing center to have a virtual tutoring night in their residence hall prior to finals
College and Academic Success
You are scrolling through snapchat stories when you notice a video of several people in a Stoneridge room. One of the people is your fellow RA who does not live in Stoneridge.
RA Accountability
Write a report with all the names of people you recognize
Notify your RD
You return from your rounds when Hunter Security stops you. Two residents are at the desk with him. Hunter Security explains that they confiscated a bag that contains alcohol but the students refuse to provide ID. The two residents complain that it’s their private property and Hunter Security does not have a right to search their things.
Hunter Security Confiscates
Explain to the residents the bag search policy and rationale.
Inform them that cooperation is the most helpful.
If they provide their IDs and are underage, walk with them to the bathroom to dump the alcohol. Do not take the alcohol yourself!
If they refuse to comply, note that in your IR and work with Hunter Security to have it brought to the office. You may need your duty partner to assist in staffing the desk/opening the office.
If the residents have already left the desk, call contact RD to dump the alcohol.
Provide RD/AD contact information to disgruntled residents if needed.
It is Sunday afternoon and you are hanging out in your room when one of your residents Heather finds you to talk about their roommate Maggie.
Heather informs you that Maggie went out to an off-campus party last week with a guy she has been seeing for the last few weeks. Maggie told Heather that she drank more than she should have and does not remember much else after that except. Maggie did not want Heather to tell anyone but Heather is concerned about what may have happened and wants to get Maggie help.
Sexual Assault
Ask the resident if they feel comfortable having their roommate there.
If the roommate interrupts, is loud or makes the resident uncomfortable, ask them to step out..
Be calm, speak in a soothing reassuring voice.
Listen (long moments of uncomfortable silence are OKAY—this can be very tough).
Follow Sexual Assault Protocol, informing them of their options (be aware of urgency – within 72 hours).
Talk about mandated reporting.
Ask if they feel safe in their space. Work with RD on call if alternate space is needed.
Listen non-judgmentally.
Suggest options and actions (medical, psychological and other assistance), but let the survivor decide what action to take. Allow them to make decisions and take control. We have to be comfortable with whatever their answer is, but also let them know that if they change their mind we can help them later too.
Follow-Up: Ask them if it is okay for you to check-in with them about how they are doing in the coming days/weeks.
Write an IR afterwards.
Be mindful that all genders can experience sexual assault.
You are in the duty office when someone tells you that their roommate brought a pet mouse home. The pet mouse is not approved through Accessibility services and your roommate wants it gone.
Pet
Notify RD On Call
Tell the residents that the animal needs to leave right away
If they say it is too late, see if roommates are okay if it stays for night.
If not, ask if there is somewhere the animal can stay for one night. Make clear the animal needs to be gone first thing in the morning.
Write report
Come February, you plan to host a valentine’s day program where you and your residents take the love languages quiz and connect it to how you give and receive love from others
Understanding Yourself and Others
You are walking down the hall when you see someone holding the exit door open for several people.
Visitors
Ask the residents to leave and come through the front door if they are residents
If they are not residents, Take Gull Cards of everyone involved and write report
If not students at Endicott, ask them to leave campus immediately and call Contact RD
Write report
You're in the office on duty on Saturday night when two residents come by assisting a third drunk resident. A resident that is very intoxicated, is in and out of it, and is being physically supported by two other residents.
Public Intoxication – Good Samaritan
Ask them to stop.
Tell them the student needs to be evaluated.
Focus on care and support for the student of concern.
Call Public Safety.
If the student asks for this to fall under Good Samaritan; let them know that it is up to the Conduct Office to decide if this situation qualifies as Good Samaritan. It is simply your responsibility to document the situation.
Collect the two friends’ information and are given the name of the friend.
Write an IR.
You are walking back from Callahan when a resident Brian comes to talk to you about their roommate Matt.
Brian says that Matt has not gone to class in days and barely eats or leaves the room. Brian says that Matt has been different since returning from break noting that Matt has a difficult family life. Since coming back from break, Matt has made comments that his major is too much. Brian doesn’t know what to do and wants you to talk to Matt but doesn’t want Matt to know that he “told on him”
You go talk to Matt and he expresses that he thinks that everything would be better if he weren’t around anymore.
Suicide Threats
Call Public Safety and the RD on call.
Highlight campus resources such as counseling, tutoring, etc.
Be sensitive.
Listen (long moments of uncomfortable silence are OKAY—this can be very tough).
Remove others from the situation when necessary.
Be direct when asking about intent.
You are a mandated reporter. You cannot keep this confidential.
You are not responsible for solving the person's problems. You are encouraged to consult in every case involving even what seems like a slight degree of risk of harm to self or others.
Follow-Up: Ask them if it is okay for you to check-in with them about how they are doing in the coming days/weeks.
Write a thorough IR.
You are walking in the hallway on your way back from class. You suddenly smell marijuana in the hall.
Marijuana
If you cannot pinpoint it, notify contact RD and write report
If you can pinpoint to a couple rooms, call for someone to confirm and contact RD
When contact RD is there, stand in doorway to hold door open and make sure no crowd arrives
Write report
Students participate in a program where they are able to identity their core values and reflect on how those values impact their daily lives
Personal Challenge and Growth
You are approached by Sally. Sally is stressed out because she isn’t getting along with her roommate, Tom. Sally says Tom never leaves the room, is always playing country music - which Sally hates - and keeps sneaking his friends from other buildings in through the exit doors.
Roommate Conflict
Go to Tom to see if there are any issues on his side.
Hold mediation to try to address the music and typical roommate issues.
Have separate conversation with Tom about following protocol - Make sure Sally knows to come to you if/when it happens again
Write report
You and your duty partner are passing by a lounge after finishing up duty and see someone sleeping on a couch. You decide to wake them up and encourage them to their room.
The resident rolls over without opening their eyes and responds that they are okay with slurred speech. Your duty partner thinks that they should just sleep it off.
Alcohol Poisoning, or Not – Staff Issue
Ask the resident if they’re okay.
Call someone. Tell your zone RA that it is not your responsibility to determine if someone who has been drinking is fine to just go to bed.
Call Public Safety first, your duty partner can call contact RD.
Keep talking to the resident to try to keep them awake.
Once Public Safety arrives, step back and let them take over.
Write an IR afterwards.
Two residents approach you and tell you that there is a sign on a door that reads: “ICE is coming for you and your family.” The resident is Hispanic and unaware that the sign is on their door.
You immediately try to make contact with the resident and the sign is removed from their door. They are upset and want the issue addressed with the entire community.
Hate Crime - Anonymous Posting
Recognize the incident as bias-related
Document the incident appropriately (Do NOT erase or remove any vandalism immediately and be sure to take pictures)
Report the incident to the professional staff on call
Assess the targeted constituents/victims and ensure they are supported or referred as needed
Once pictures have been taken, either cover up the vandalism/expression with a sign that addresses that it is not tolerated and not acceptable in the community or post a sign addressing to the community the inappropriate nature of the vandalism
Address the incident with the community, as the victims feel comfortable. Meet with the parties involved, and if appropriate, hold a floor meeting to address how it may have impacted the community
You are in your room when you hear shouting from the hallway. You go outside to see two residents screaming at each other and in each other's faces. You get their attention and ask them to separate but they ignore you and continue yelling. You fear it is going to become physical.
Fight
Call Public Safety first
Then call RD on-call and zone partner if available.
If crowd begins to form, ask them to disperse
Write report
An RA hosts a program where they list out various identifiers and students need to write down the first word(s) that come to mind to then have a conversation regarding stereotypes.
Diversity/Inclusion
You are walking by the beach and some students wave you over to the sand volleyball court. You notice a student is crying and hyperventilating. They say they are feeling claustrophobic due to the mask.
Panic Attack
Ask other students to give some space
Talk calmly to the student. Try to get them to take large breaths to slow down breathing.
If need medical attention, call Public safety
If need mental health support, call RD on Call.
Write report
It is a Saturday night and you are on duty. Anonymous residents from the community call you to complain about a party going on the second floor.
Party with alcohol
Knock and announce yourselves
Listen for clinking bottles, whispering, etc
Ask the resident who answers the door to put on a mask, turn on the lights, and open the door fully.
Ask if there is alcohol present and how many people are in the room.
Residents and guests should put their masks on and file out with their Gull cards (do not go into a room full of people during the pandemic)
Take down Gull card information (Name, SID #, building and room number)
Once everyone is outside, ask the resident to step outside, so that you can do a plain view search of the room for any remaining guests or policy violations. Zone RA keeps the door open.
If you see alcohol or drinking games, call in the resident of the room to grab the alcohol and dump it. Do not dump it yourself!
Thank the resident for being cooperative. Let them know you will be documenting the situation and if they have any questions to ask you or the RD/AD.
Write an IR.
If they are not cooperative, call the RD on call for backup.
If residents run away, do not chase them!