RAs at Northeastern have been treated unfairly and are made to take on more responsibilities than is typically required of an RA. Upper Res Life Management should hold themselves accountable towards the concerns of RAs. Upper Res Life can easily threaten to fire RAs over miniscule problems because they know that for personal or economic reasons, RAs require this position to sustain themselves. Therefore, using this leverage, they are able to shut down any attempts to raise problems about how RAs may be struggling. Besides being RAs, we are also students who may be taking difficult classes or on coop, taking on this position that is as burdensome as a full-time job. As RAs, we love getting to know and take care of our residents, as well as run community building events. However, having to worry about many unnecessary tasks, as well as whether or not Res Life will fire us over a small issue, detracts from the position and our love for this job. 

Our initiatives:

• Reducing proctoring or having no proctoring.
  • RAs are required to do 48 hours of unpaid proctoring throughout a semester. Not only is this burdening on RA's but also takes away time and opportunities from paid proctors on campus. This leaves dissatisfaction on both sides - both on the RAs who already have an immense workload, and on the proctors who are barely able to get shifts to work. Many of these proctors are relying on their proctoring job for their income, as a lot of them are international students and can only work on campus, and Northeastern is taking away this opportunity from them simply to save money by using RAs as free labor. 
• Getting fairly compensated for our efforts through a stipend or through paid proctoring.
  • Other universities such as Boston University, Johns Hopkins, and Northwestern, compensate their RAs through an additional stipend along with other benefits such as Housing and a Meal Plan. 
  • We believe that if we are required to proctor, that we should at the very least be compensated for it.

We ask you to join us in raising our voices for more transparency, better communication, and more accountability from Res Life. This support would be greatly appreciated.