"It's My RA!"

It is four am, Sunday morning and the phone rings. Brianna Warne emerges from a dream to answer the phone, for what she thinks is a lock out. Emma Twomey, the primary RA, who is at the hospital already, informs Brianna that she too will need to accompany an intoxicated resident to the hospital. Four in the morning, on secondary – Brianna cannot believe it.

The life of a Resident Assistant is the life few people really know about. On Temple University’s campus there are almost two hundred RAs, two hundred students that assume the responsibility of twenty to sixty residents. To prepare they spend almost two weeks of their summer training- for everything- before the residents arrive.

The irony of training is it will never fully prepare the RAs for the job. At an RA meet and greet for this year’s hiring, one RA warned that anything can happen on the job. During his first year a student died in the building. No amount of training can help with a death of a resident. Daniel Butsko, a 21 year-old senior and second- year RA, said, “You do get trained in training about everything under the sun, but you really don’t know how it will go until you experience it and practice the skills.”

Ask anyone what an RA does and most people will probably tell say: RAs bust parties, take intoxicated residents to the hospital and do lock outs at two in the morning. There is not much to it. After all RAs are only on duty one day of the week.

In reality, RAs perform tasks that would make most adults shutter. They are friends, mentors, authority figures, students, and support systems; they wear many hats.

Peter Cason, a 21 year-old junior and second- year RA said, “I didn’t know there was so much behind the scenes work that goes into the job and a lot of residents don’t see that. When I first was put into the job a lot of things came at me and I just had to deal with it.”

That behind the scenes work includes duty logs, decorating, planning programs, moving residents in and out, making bulletin boards, being on call, being accessible to residents and even dealing with crisis. Accepting an RA job changes one’s life forever. Immediately the newly hired RA realizes he or she is no longer a normal student. Butsko said, “ I definitely don’t think RAs are normal students. You are held to a higher standard and have to be more cognoscente about being an example.”

He also added, “You never know when an emergency could happen that messes with your academic life – I put my residents before my needs in some instances.”

Last year Residential Life had 5 hundred applicants for less than 1 hundred open positions. There is a written application and a weekend of group interviews and solo interviews to figure out which applicants will succeed. Before the application is due there are meet & greets with a few RAs for applicants to get a better understanding of the job. This is when the applicants get a real glimpse of what happens behind closed doors.

The job is 24/7; you live where you work and sometimes that causes problems. Cason said, “The biggest challenge is when you have a bad day and you don’t want to deal with anyone. It’s tough doing that because you want to make yourself available for your residents. I’ll close my door but if someone knocks I have to put on a strong face.”

Even when RAs are not on duty, they still get knocks on the door. Residents tend to forget that RAs are students and normal college kids too. The boundaries become blurred sometimes putting the RA in a position more like a parent than peer. Through it all, Residential Life’s goal is to help residents transition to independence. Not developing an emotional connection with residents is impossible. Some RAs even say their floors are their children. This obviously creates conflicts.

If you ask Emma Twomey, a 19 year-old sophomore and first-year RA, she will say she hit the jackpot. When she says jackpot she means the most hospital runs in the semester amongst her staff. One night, after receiving a call from security about an intoxicated resident, Twomey walked to the lobby unaware it would be a night she would never forget. The resident was throwing up in the lobby and even defecated in his chair. EMS had to take him out on a stretcher because he could not even get up. Later it was discovered the resident, who was also on drugs, was a cocaine dealer. Weeks later the same resident ran passed security after being banned from the building. Twomey witnessed the incident while doing homework at the front desk.

This would make one wonder, is free room and board, a free meal plan and a $200 stipend for books as compensation worth all the hassle?

Brianna Warne, a 21-year old senior and second year RA, remembers last year on her birthday her residents knocked on her door at midnight. When she opened the door they were holding a cupcake for her. It is moments like this that make the trips to the hospital worth it.

Residents also provide comic relief. Whenever an RA knocks on a suspicious door during the weekends there is a long pause followed by, “Guys, quiet! It’s my RA!” But nothing compares to when Warne had to explain to Temple Police that a resident was not 22 years old and his ID was fake.  

When a sense of responsibility forms, sometimes the RA feels obligated to help a resident. The RA transforms into a lion protecting its cub. And protecting up to 50 cubs from the wild is tiring. This is when RAs have to remind themselves why they are doing the job.

Whenever Cason feels overwhelmed in the job he reminds himself why he loves his job. His favorite part is being able to meet new people, especially those he probably would have never interacted with. Cason said, “To know you can help them grow academically, physically and emotionally is the greatest reward.” There are a plethora of back-stories RAs get to hear and learn from.

The benefits of the job are not just for the residents. RAs experience a remarkable change, even in their first months on the job. Cason said, “ If I could see myself last year, first semester, I might not recognize myself.” The rewards of the job are innumerable. Maturity, organization skills, increased creativity- RAs lovingly refer to this as arts& crafts – time management, and professional development all benefit RAs. Butsko said, “You cannot get another experience like this. There is no other job that teaches you how to handle conflict and deal with people. I know that no matter what happens, it will be an invaluable experience in the real world.”

The family atmosphere is one of the greatest rewards of the job. In times of chaos RAs lean on each other for support. The time during training allows the family bond to grow. With 14-hour days, for close to three weeks with the same people it is impossible not to become close. It creates the foundation needed for the year. Butsko said, “Res Life is one big happy family, dysfunctional like any other family but I love it.”

RA supervisors are a Residential Director, a Resident Coordinator, an Associate Director and other directors. The RD runs a resident hall and is working on a Ph.D with some experience in higher education. The RC is in charge of programming and community building in the residence hall and is a graduate student also with some higher education experience. Associate Directors oversee certain buildings and Directors oversee certain aspects of Residential Life such as student behavior. ADs and directors have a Masters or Ph.D in higher education. Pro- Life staff members of Residential Life were not able to comment about the RA life.

After everything is said, when it comes down to it Butsko is correct in saying, “Overall unless you are an RA you don’t really understand what it is.”

The Black Hawks

On the corner of Temple University’s campus sits a forgotten field. It may not look like much but this field is home to the Black Hawks. The father of this unlikely home is Coach Don Richardson. At age fifty-nine, Richardson coached football for the Black Hawks for fourteen years. Initially becoming involved because his son’s coach never showed up, Richardson now is the athletic director for all four of the Black Hawks’ teams – football, basketball, baseball and cheerleading.

            After the previous president passed away ten years ago, Richardson saw the need for leadership for the Black Hawks. With the help of two other gentlemen, Richardson took the opportunity to lead.

            As a young man Richardson played football as a receiver and defensive back. He played at Slippery Rock University for one year and the made it on to the Denver Broncos’ practice squad in 1973. After leaving the Broncos, Richardson played semi-pro ball for a few years.

            When his football days were over, Richardson opened a forklifting company, which he stayed at until he became ill. These days the Black Hawks are his life. Richardson receives dialysis three days a week but spends most of his days at the field on Montgomery and 11^th or working in some way for the Black Hawks.

            Black Hawk athletics has become Richardson’s life. Even though his biological son is no longer on the team, he thinks of every player as his own son. He said, “ It is surprising to see I know all the kids and they know me. It’s impressive that they recognize me on the streets.”

            Richardson beamed like a proud father as he talked about those involved. He could not stop talking about his coaches and the teams they led to national championships.

            Two such coaches, Coach Scrap and Coach LaMar said, “He brought me in. I would not be here without him.” When Erica Richardson, Richardson’s wife, spoke of her husband she said he always comes out of retirement whenever a team needs a coach. She continued to say, “The Black Hawks are his life.”

            Mrs. Richardson’s comments maybe a little bias but both Scrap and LaMar completely agreed with her. All the coaches love Richardson.

 James Scott, a Philadelphia Police Officer, who volunteers as a coach for the Black Hawks said, “(Richardson) accepted me even though I was never a Black Hawk.” Many of the coaches are former players but Scott was an exception.

            Acceptance for Richardson does not end at whom he allows to coach. He is there whenever needed, especially for his players. To play on the team, players have to pay a $100 fee to cover expenses. This fee is the lowest out of all the teams in the city, but some people still have problems paying. Scott, said that Richardson does whatever he can to allow someone to play, even if that means not getting the full $100.

Richardson believes so much in the program that he will create multiple teams of the same weight/age limit to accommodate all who want to play. He tries not to turn anyone away.

When the program started forty-five years ago, the goal was to keep young African American men off the streets and out of trouble. Today, the mission is the same, but has become a core value. Even though Richardson’s favorite part is going to the playoffs and winning, he added, “I raised these kids; I’m proud as long as they get an education.”

            Richardson’s concern with educating these young men is evident in his frequent visits to the boys’ schools. The principals welcome his visits stating as Richardson said, “I can come anytime I want. They don’t cause trouble when I’m in the building.”

Richardson stated, “my job is to do everything,” and that includes catching the boys who fall through the cracks with their grades or behaviors. If someone does anything wrong they make sure Richardson does not find out.

To say the least, Don Richardson is dedicated. What he wants is to positively influence these boys. And thanks to a 2.5 million dollar contribution from St. Joe’s Preparatory School, the field the boys practice on will be completely renovated. St. Joe’s will use it as a practice facility, allowing the Black Hawks to use all the new equipment they buy. For Richardson, this was the help he need to continue his mission

While being interviewed, Richardson was interrupted by five- year old Semaj Mitchell. Dressed as a skeleton for Halloween, Semaj began talking to Richardson. Even though Semaj does not play football yet, when he was asked if Richardson was his buddy he shyly nodded his head. The impact Richardson has on these boys is crystal clear.

Through sports, these young men are taught disciple, responsibility and how to become a man in the most important years of their development. As the athletic director and a former coach, Richardson provides a positive male role model for the boys, especially those who do not have a father figure.

"Children have never been good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them." James Baldwin

Redefine Possible: The Challenge of Endurance

After running fourteen marathons, Clark Baurer, 54, finds motivation and companionship in his rescued shepherd. Baurer’s most recent marathon was Philadelphia’s 20^th Annual Marathon held on Sunday, November 17, 2013. Runners began their journey of 26.2mile marathon or 13.1mile half marathon at seven am that crisp Sunday morning.

            Families could be seen searching for their loved ones on the side lines, Irca, Baurer’s wife stood on the corner of Chestnut St. and South Broad St. impatiently awaiting her husband. The Baurers’ who traveled from Chicago for the marathon rescued Clark’s running companion from Oklahoma after the tornados in early 2013. Like any other runner, Irca Baurer said her husband experiences days of jadedness toward running. On those days it is their energetic shepherd that gives Clark the motivation to train.

            Clark Baurer uses marathons to stay healthy. Training for a specific event helps him stay driven and the marathon is his “ideal race,” according to his wife. Irca Baurer said her husband describes the first 13 miles as, “beautiful bliss.” After training for 16 weeks those miles are second nature.

            Upon seeing her husband, Irca Baurer immediately jumped up and down and ran on the sidewalk keeping in pace with her husband. This joy and excitement was felt throughout the morning as supporters waved their signs and screamed for those running. “Stay strong runners, stay strong,” was the anthem for one supporter on Chestnut Street.

            The runners weren’t the only ones who exercised that day. Families and friends moved along the 26.2mile course to cheer their runner on all day. While waiting for her son, Jason Friedman, Shelia Friedman said, “The Ethiopian runners were first of course, so he wouldn’t be in that group.” But soon her face lit up, screaming as Jason ran by. After, Shelia Friedman began the 30- minute walk to the Philadelphia Museum of Art to do it all over again.

            30,000 runners from every state and 40 different countries competed in this year’s marathon. The course started and ended on Benjamin Franklin Blvd along the Delaware. The runners saw Philadelphia’s many attractions including the Liberty Bell, Love Park, City Hall, South Street, University City, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Boathouse Row and Kelly Drive in Fairmount Park.

First place winners, Abebe Mekuriya and Irina Alexandrova both received $3500. Alexandrova, a 33 year-old Russian native, lead the women with a time of 2:39:3.74. Mekuriya, the 30 year-old Ethiopian native finished in 2:17:34.7, only 47.3 second away from the men’s record of 2:16:47, set by Joseph Nderitu in 2003. Though Makuriya did not break the record, along with the other 29, 999 runners, he redefined possible – proving what one runner’s shirt proclaimed.

"It's very hard in the beginning to understand that the whole idea is not to beat the other runners. Eventually you learn that the competition is against the little voice inside you that wants you to quit." George Sheehan

Because We've Had Enough

What is being called this generation’s feminism movement- the Slutwalk: A March to End Rape Culture commenced Saturday, September 28, 2013. Hundreds of people arrive at Love Park to make the walk around Center City, Philadelphia to bring awareness to rape culture.

Present in cities across the world, Slutwalk began in 2011 in Toronto. After a police officer said, “Women should avoid dressing like sluts in order not to be victimized,” co-founder, Heather Jarvis, wanted to reclaim the word slut and stop victim shaming.

            This harsh reality does not allow women to be sexual beings without some sort of stigma. Clothing and self- expression become an excuse for rape. Instead of blaming the rapist, society blames those who are raped. It is the victim’s fault because he or she was either intoxicated, wearing revealing clothing, being a tease, or generally just asking for it.

Protesters are encouraged to wear whatever they want. Many choose to march in lingerie to prove clothing does not matter.

            If you talk to those who support the cause, they will tell you it is all about raising awareness. This is not just a woman’s issue, but also a human right’s issue. RAINN – Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network, reports that one out of every six women is a victim of sexual violence. But if nine out of ten victims are women- one out of ten victims is male.

For Michael Genery that was the case. He was raped as a child in a boys’ home. He says, “ I struggled, but I turned from a victim to a victor.” Often men are only seen as the perpetrators and we forget they can also be the victims.

            As a society hyper aggressive sexualities in males is tolerated and sometimes promoted. Will Rome said her reason for attending the walk was, “to end internalized misogyny.” To her finding feminism saved her life. The movement is so important because as Rome said, “slut shame is so relevant,” to our culture.

            Many women, including Angela Rose who started Pave – Promoting Awareness, Victim Empowerment – speak of police blaming victims when they report rape. After being raped, Rose took on the police force and won after they said she caused her kidnap and rape. Most women do not report their rape because they are afraid to be blamed. Women suffer in silence, often blaming themselves.

            Rape is an act of power not of desire.

Creator of Stop Telling Women to Smile, Tatyana Fazlalizadeh attributes street harassment and the control over women’s bodies as major factors. She believes a safe place needs to be made for an open dialogue about sexual assault. Sexologist, Dr. Jill McDevitt teaches, “No has to be the standard and yes is the active choice,” when consenting to sex.

            As protesters marched around center city, sounds of joyous approval and looks of disgust came from those on the sidewalks. But the disapproving looks did not phase those involved as they continued to chant, “wherever we go however we dress no means no and yes means yes; one two three for we won’t take it anymore, five six seven eight no more violence no more hate!”

While the Slutwalk is a relatively new protest, the signs show the importance. One of many read, “Men get raped. Children get raped. Were they showing their tits too?” Silence is the same as doing nothing but there will be no more silence.

"Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one's definition of your life. Define yourself." - Harvey Feirstein

Some Like It Hot

 It takes a certain type of person to become a glassblower. 

From waking up at 5:30 in the morning for studio time to the grueling heat of the 2,000-degree furnaces, working glass is not something to approach lightly.

Glass majors at Temple University’s Tyler School of Art know how difficult it can be but cannot avoid the spell glass casts over them. Kyra Buleza, a first year glass major, who initially was interested in painting, said “I kept walking passed the hot shop and thinking I have to get in there.” Though the excitement of the field drew Buleza, it was the sense of community and nurturing teachers that helped her make a last minute decision to become a glass major.

            Because glass is a teamwork intensive activity, a strong sense of trust forms. It is this trust that fosters the growth of the community into a family. Buleza said, “The extent of care is amazing. You are sweating and getting burned for others’ pieces. What is important is the piece. In turn, the gaffer (person working the glass) is trusting you with their piece when transferring it.” 

Sean Redmond, a third year glass major, says, “The person working on the piece is the center of the universe.  You need to protect the piece they are making.”

An amazing amount of dedication is needed to work with glass, shown in the countless hour spent in the studio and an unrelenting work ethic. And if anyone begins to wonder why they are there Buleza said, “(you) look around to see people who have been working all day – everyone motivates each other just by doing their own work. Every one has the same amount of drive and desire to do their best.” 

Evidence of hard work is seen in the burns glass artists have. A simple burn can tell a story of drive or stupidity. It can even tell you what exactly the person was doing when they got the burn. For this reason, Buleza always looks at the hands of glass artists. Both majors, agreed after working with glass nothing hurts as badly. Redmond said that burns "make you feel like you belong – it’s like a tribe, you’ve been initiated.”

The amazing work done in the hot shop can be attributed to the incredible dedication but one cannot forget the studio itself. Tyler is one of the top three college studios in the nation. It is equipped with every sort of way to work with glass – blowing, flameworking, casting, kiln and cold working. 

Despite the fact that glass making has been around for 5,000 years in places such as Murano, Italy, it was only sixty years ago that the contemporary art form began. Since it is so young, Redmond, said, “You can’t say everything in glass has been done before. I could be the person who develops a new technique.” 

Random experimenting and learning from the greats that established the art movement, many of whom are still alive, makes the impact the students could have in the future even more tangible. Pilchauk, a glass school in Washington State, is the pinnacle of the movement- creating no limitations on what can be done. Students aspire to go to Pilchauk. It is the magical place Buleza said where, "boys go to become men."

"Glass is the most magical of materials." - Dale Chihuly

Part-time: The New Full-time

If you have been lucky enough to experience the thirty to forty minute wait in a Walmart check-up line, you have participated in the new trend of American jobs. Temp workers in the United States is now becoming the norm in the country. Big corporations, such as Walmart, who has changed all its employees to part time, are depending not on full time employees but temp workers. In order to avoid any litigations, if they arise, these corporations do not directly hire their temp workers. Instead the companies hire temp agencies who then hire the individuals. If waking up at three am to go wait in an office to see if you have a job that day was not enough, these individuals also have to pay the agencies to transport them to the site. Jobs are on a day to day basis. Some jobs can last months but others only a day. Temp workers are so popular now because companies do not have to pay benefits. So where the company wins and gains money, the American people, as a whole, lose. The benefits that are not paid for by the company now sit on the shoulders of American taxes, particularly the healthcare. The idea that any adult can make a good living by working as a temp is ludicrous. Part time jobs were once for teenagers and college students looking to make some money, but now they cannot even find a job. The unethical business practices of these companies is detrimental to the American economy. As the country continues to debate the growing gap between the rich and the poor, temp workers become just another example of the greed of some. For Walmart, the lack of full time employees results in a huge shortage of man power needed to run the store, which in turn means longer lines, as only 5-10 of the 25-30 registers are open. How can you run a company without the necessary amount of people? 
"Anyway, no drug, not even alcohol, causes the fundamental ills of society. If we're looking for the source of our troubles, we shouldn't test people for drugs, we should test them for stupidity, ignorance, greed and love of power." P.J. O'Rourke

The Invisible War

As President Obama made it a priority to address the sexual assault record in the military during his commencement address at the Navel Academy, I thought it would be a good time to shed light on the documentary, The Invisible War. Coming from a military family, I have always wondered if my path would lead me to wear the uniform. On my mind, especially as the decision become more and more tangible, was the occurrence of rape in the military. What finally sealed my decision of not joining the military was the documentary, The Invisible War. The dangers of this phenomenon became even more real to me. 
Kori Cioca, was raped by her supervisor in the Coast Guard. Kori Cioca, was raped by her supervisor in the Coast Guard. That night, she broke her jaw because of a hit to the face. Kori's story shows how the military ignores the pleas of those assaulted. Kori left the Coast Guard shy of two years, because of this she was not able to get coverage for her injuries. Even with x-rays, the VA doctors refused to document that Kori had in fact broken her jaw, which resulted in damage to her nerves because it was left untreated leaving Kori unable to eat a solid diet. 20% of all women, 18-21year olds accounting for half of those incidents reported, in the military are raped during their service. Of course it is not simply a women's problem, as men are also raped in the military. The documentary expressed that the biggest problem for rape victims is the hierarchical system. The victim has to report the rape to a superior, which in most cases is the perpetrator. Ariana Klay,was raped after being promoted to the most prestigious military posts, at the Marine Barracks in Washington, D.C. In her account, she describes a college frat like atmosphere, where everyone was forced to go out and drink at multiple bars after their shift. If someone refused to drink while at the bar they were sanctioned and forced to drink more. The most shocking part of her story was that despite her service in Iraq and her high ranking, no one stepped in to help her. Ariana planned on making her military service a career, until that night. Ariana's husband was interviewed and cried when he recalled how he was unable to help her- showing just how rape does not only affect the victim, but the family as well. Trina McDonald was drugged and raped repeatedly at her Naval base in Alaska. She tells of being unable to even tell her dad what happened, when she pleaded to come home, because the phone lines were being listened to by the men who had raped her. I cannot imagine being stationed as the only girl, in an isolated post and then having to face your rapists everyday without any justice. Trina's story showed the affects of PTSD. She had become depressed after the rape, and was still grappling with the affects years after. The son of Trina's partner said, "I'm sorta sad to not have known Trina before hand when she was in her prime. Now she's anxious and sad a lot." Trina stated, "A lot of times when we are out doing something, Mitch will be like checking in like 'It's okay Trina. it's alright.' I appreciative of it but it makes me really sad that here's this little eleven year old boy that's watching out for my well being. It hurts. I want it to go away and it doesn't go away." Women who have been raped have a higher rate of PTSD then men in combat. At the end of the documentary, when asked if they would recommend the military to a woman, all those interviewed said no. It was understood that by joining, one would be accepting rape as a part of the deal. Hyper-masculinity, displayed in recruiting videos, is encourage in the military culture - so it seems sexual assault is apart of that culture. Unfortunately the military is losing more than it is gaining by not standing by these victims who come forward. For all the victims that do choose to report the attack, there are many more who do not because of the fear of sanctions and not being taken seriously. Ariana describes how she was told she deserved it because she wore running shorts. Even though President Obama is taking a step by including this issue in his commencement address, there is an enormous amount of work to be down to insure the safety of all those in the military. They are giving their lives for us, why can we not protect them from sexual assault? 
http://www.notinvisible.org
"[Referring to rape] It already is bigger than everything else. it lives in front of me, behind me, next to me, inside me every single day. My schedule is dictated by it, my habits by it, my music by it. " -  Daisy Whitney, The Mockingbirds 
"...in my wildest, most indulgent dreams, we only hear about sexual assault and abuse in history books." Lisa Factora- Borchers