2008 Woodie Awards
CDAs struggle to find place in leadership
Rosa Gibbons, Staff Writer
Issue date: 12/5/06
Last Updated: 12/29/07
Nov said this can be part of the problem because everyone has a different idea of what community is. She said she feels it is important for everyone in each dorm, students as well as leaders, to be able to agree on what they believe defines community.
Nov also voiced her belief that leaders such as CDAs should be relationship-oriented.
"I feel that our community should value more authentic relationships," Nov said. "I'm not sure exactly how to make that happen, but I think it would help if we are more intentional, more mindful of all our differences in our relationships."
Jen agreed that superficial relationships can be associated with being a CDA.
"There are so many people, and you want to get to know everyone at some level, so you can have superficial relationships with a lot of people. You develop deeper relationships with some people, but there's not enough time to have deep relationships with everyone. It is kind of sad," Jen said. "Being a CDA is about building relationships and promoting differences. It's also about learning as you go."
Other CDAs also said they felt there were mixed expectations of what their job entailed.
"It would be easier if I knew more what to do," junior Karolynn Tom, a CDA in Warren, said.
Sophomore Billy O'Connell, a CDA for Ballard-Schumacher-McMillan also said that the job of a CDA is not really set-up or structured very well.
"Sometimes I feel like I'm doing less than I should be doing, and it can be frustrating," O'Connell said.
Tom said she feels it can be difficult to get things done.
"I would say that it is hard being a CDA who wants to accomplish a lot to have to work with other staff who aren't focused on the same stuff that CDAs are," Tom said. "It's not that the RA's don't try, it's just that they have a different focus."
Tom said the immediate goals of RAs and CDAs are different, but the final goal of promoting community is the same.
O'Connell said he still feels part of a team.
"But for the most part I feel like I am given enough of a voice to be able to make decisions with the rest of my leadership team," O'Connell said.
Freshman Stephanie Augsburger, an international student from Switzerland, said the CDAs were effective in helping her transition into life at Whitworth.
"They were my first friends in a way," Augsburger said. "They also want to promote the mixing of nationalities on campus, and make people aware of what a good thing it is to see diversities on campus and then in the world."
Despite her concerns, Nov said she considers Whitworth's leadership system to be the best she has seen at any college.
"My friends from other colleges are always impressed with our leadership team, and I'm very proud of that," Nov said, "A lot of them don't even know who their RA is."
Nov also voiced her belief that leaders such as CDAs should be relationship-oriented.
"I feel that our community should value more authentic relationships," Nov said. "I'm not sure exactly how to make that happen, but I think it would help if we are more intentional, more mindful of all our differences in our relationships."
Jen agreed that superficial relationships can be associated with being a CDA.
"There are so many people, and you want to get to know everyone at some level, so you can have superficial relationships with a lot of people. You develop deeper relationships with some people, but there's not enough time to have deep relationships with everyone. It is kind of sad," Jen said. "Being a CDA is about building relationships and promoting differences. It's also about learning as you go."
Other CDAs also said they felt there were mixed expectations of what their job entailed.
"It would be easier if I knew more what to do," junior Karolynn Tom, a CDA in Warren, said.
Sophomore Billy O'Connell, a CDA for Ballard-Schumacher-McMillan also said that the job of a CDA is not really set-up or structured very well.
"Sometimes I feel like I'm doing less than I should be doing, and it can be frustrating," O'Connell said.
Tom said she feels it can be difficult to get things done.
"I would say that it is hard being a CDA who wants to accomplish a lot to have to work with other staff who aren't focused on the same stuff that CDAs are," Tom said. "It's not that the RA's don't try, it's just that they have a different focus."
Tom said the immediate goals of RAs and CDAs are different, but the final goal of promoting community is the same.
O'Connell said he still feels part of a team.
"But for the most part I feel like I am given enough of a voice to be able to make decisions with the rest of my leadership team," O'Connell said.
Freshman Stephanie Augsburger, an international student from Switzerland, said the CDAs were effective in helping her transition into life at Whitworth.
"They were my first friends in a way," Augsburger said. "They also want to promote the mixing of nationalities on campus, and make people aware of what a good thing it is to see diversities on campus and then in the world."
Despite her concerns, Nov said she considers Whitworth's leadership system to be the best she has seen at any college.
"My friends from other colleges are always impressed with our leadership team, and I'm very proud of that," Nov said, "A lot of them don't even know who their RA is."
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