Published Oct. 10, 2024
DSA Laker Weekly Newsletter
Written by Grace Hasley

If you live on campus, chances are you have an RA. Whether you have a close relationship with them or you awkwardly avoid eye contact when you see them around campus, RA’s are here for you in ways that you may not know about. After getting the inside scoop from a real-life Grand Valley RA, we discovered that there’s lots of ways your RA can benefit your college experience.

Residence Assistants, or RAs, are fellow students that live in on-campus housing right alongside you. They can support you in settling roommate conflicts, pointing you to appropriate campus resources, and getting you involved in campus events or student organizations. Above all, RAs can be a shoulder to lean on.

We asked Elijah Fosu, an RA with a year of experience, about how Residence Assistants can be an important resource for their residents. “I am their first point of contact if they are having a challenge or any problem,” he explained.

Students that have conflicts, whether it's academic or personal, can turn to their RA. Elijah tells his residents that they can come knock on his door if they ever need anything. RAs go through detailed training that teaches them about all the resources on campus. If you’re in a tough situation, your RA will be able to point you in the right direction. 

Elijah also talked about the more informal ways he strives to support GVSU students. He told us about one of the programs he recently put on for his residents to give them study tips. “Those events are not meant to be like, really directly teaching students anything but creates a space for them to come and hang out and make some new friends,” said Elijah.

In all on-campus living centers, there are bulletin boards spread throughout the halls. If you come across one, don’t brush past it! RAs work hard to pack them full of information about upcoming campus events, involvement opportunities, and important hall announcements. Take a moment to check them out. You never know, you might find your plans for the weekend on a bulletin board!

Take advantage of having an essential campus resource right down the hall. Try forming a relationship with your RA and solidifying that support system. Elijah talked about how his favorite part of being an RA is when his residents say “hello” to him on campus. “It's joyful to see them,” he said. Find out what else your RA can do for you!

Explore the RA staff

For general inquiries, please contact: 

Student Affairs Marketing Editorial Team: [email protected] 

Director, Student Affairs Marketing: Megan Wierenga: [email protected]