The Rising Voice of Resident Assistants: A New Chapter in Campus Life
In the heart of a New York summer, a group of NYU resident assistants gathered on Zoom to discuss what they called their "twenty-four-hour job." Their stories painted a vivid picture of the challenges facing modern RAs: from managing midnight fire alarms with no clear protocols to juggling multiple jobs just to make ends meet.
## The Around-the-Clock Reality
Take Nora's experience: During her summer RA stint, she found herself evacuating students onto a city street at 11 PM during a fire alarm, with no guidance on whether it was a real emergency or just another false alarm. Despite completing mandatory fire safety training, she and her colleagues were left in the dark. "We don't know. No one told us anything. We don't know where to put you. We don't know what to tell you," she recalled telling concerned residents.
The role's demands extend far beyond emergency response. RAs plan events, conduct one-on-one meetings with residents, handle conflicts, and serve as the front line for student wellbeing—all while trying to maintain their own academic success. As Darrion, who worked three jobs simultaneously, explained, "You're supposed to enforce your own boundaries for this work-life balance, but at the same time, we came to this job because we wanted to build a community."
## A Movement Takes Shape
This complex reality has sparked a wave of unionization efforts across American campuses. In September 2024, Student Workers at New York University (SWAN) made history by becoming NYU's first undergraduate student union. Their victory followed similar movements at institutions like Brown University, Boston University, and Tufts, where RAs have successfully fought for better working conditions and compensation.
The stakes are particularly high given the current landscape of higher education. RAs find themselves at the intersection of multiple crises: skyrocketing college costs, mental health challenges, and heightened political tensions on campus. They're often thrust into roles as first responders and mental health support without adequate training or resources.
## Beyond the Traditional Role
Hannah, an RA at Columbia University, challenges the traditional view of RAs as mere event planners. "Much more of our mental energy... has to do with being in that mental-health first-responder role, which is not in the popular culture or the zeitgeist of what an RA is," she explained.
This evolution of the RA role reflects broader changes in campus life. As universities grapple with protests, political activism, and safety concerns, RAs often find themselves caught between their duties as university employees and their identities as students. At schools like Vanderbilt and the University of Michigan, RAs have had to navigate complex situations involving campus protests, police presence, and changing institutional policies.
## A Vision for the Future
The unionization movement represents more than just a push for better working conditions—it's about reimagining the role itself. As Mark from the University of Michigan noted, the college experience is marketed as collective, yet "that collective framing ends immediately when it comes to anything about self-governance or anything about democratization."
For Mickey at NYU, the successful union vote represents a "historical moment" that could benefit future generations of RAs. As she mentors freshmen interested in becoming RAs, she's motivated to improve conditions for those who will follow. "You want to leave a legacy for future RAs," she said. "We want them to have better experiences than us."
This transformation of the RA role speaks to a larger shift in how we think about student labor, campus community, and the future of higher education. As these student workers continue to organize and advocate for change, they're not just fighting for better working conditions—they're helping to reshape the college experience itself.