Dr. Carson greets the SLA's during
orientation luncheon

Student Life Assistants Track Vital Signs in Residence Halls

This year's Student Life Assistants arrived on the Erskine College campus today to begin their orientation. A number of Erskine graduates each year count service as "Student Life Assistant" among the achievements of their college years. But a newcomer to Erskine might wonder exactly what it is that Student Life Assistants, popularly known as SLA's, contribute to life at Erskine College.

To discover at least part of the answer, ask anyone who has lived in an Erskine dorm, or better yet, someone who has also worked in one, as has former Resident Director (RD) Brooke Clinton, an Erskine graduate who currently serves as Student Activities Director.

"When I was a student I did not realize how much the SLA's did. I wish now I had been more supportive of them," said Clinton. "Serving as an RD and working with the SLA's in my dorm opened my eyes to how much they are responsible for."

Clinton recalls that SLA Elizabeth Rowe helped her over some of the initial rough spots she experienced as a new RD in Robinson Hall.

"I would have been completely lost without her," said Clinton. "Elizabeth had been an SLA for a year and I was just coming in as an RD. She filled me in on so many details I needed to know."

"A Student Life Assistant is a current student who lives on the same floor as the other students," Erskine Vice President for Student Services and Athletics Monty Wooley explains.

"Like Resident Directors–older adults living in separate quarters in the dormitory–the SLA's are there to serve the students," said Wooley. "They help provide students with a safe and comfortable place to study and live, and they see that the level of behavior expected on our campus and in our dorms is respected."

Using SLA's in addition to RD's in the residence halls goes back a few years at Erskine. "They have been called different things over the years, but this practice has been observed at least back into the 1960's and probably before," said Wooley. And though the general system is not unique to Erskine, "the expectations for these positions are very different at different institutions," Wooley said.

At Erskine, both SLA's and RD's must undergo a period of preparation and training.

"The SLA's go through a five-day orientation period that exposes them to things like recognizing risk behavior, understanding the policies of the institution, learning how to handle certain situations in the dorm, communication, expectations for them, and a drug presentation," Wooley said. The RD's have a three-day orientation on their own, and then join with the SLA's for their five-day program.

One way in which SLA's and RD's help enrich dorm life is by organizing and presenting programs for students. "The Residence Life Program teams up men's and women's dorms to plan an activity," said Clinton. "For example, last year, Robinson and Kennedy teamed up to work on Operation Christmas Child together."

Other less structured activities include movie nights, door decorating contests, and Monday night football.parties, all designed to "bring the dorm together as a family," according to Clinton.

"We also have a lot of study breaks to support students academically," said Clinton. "Not just the official ones during finals, but maybe we might have one during midterms when so many students have tests to prepare for and papers to write."

What does Wooley look for when selecting someone to serve as a Student Life Assistant? "We look for a student who is concerned and interested in others," Wooley said. "One who is mature and shows good judgment–one who is willing to serve his or her fellow students."

The selection process seems to be working well, if Clinton's experience as an RD is any indication. "My SLA's were very mature young women. I could confide in them and they were wonderful problem solvers.

"The RD's are there to manage and oversee things in the dorm," said Clinton. "But the SLA's are the ones on duty so much of the time–the students usually go to them first when there is a problem. If there is a 'front line' in the dorm, it would be the SLA's."