2008 Woodie Awards
CDAs struggle to find place in leadership
Rosa Gibbons, Staff Writer
Issue date: 12/5/06
Last Updated: 12/29/07
Some students at Whitworth are concerned that all student leaders do not have the same influence on the community.
Junior Nissana Nov was a cultural diversity advocate in Warren Hall last year. She said she began the year with a huge vision for herself to impact those around her. However, she found that she and the other CDAs had more trouble than other student leaders in making their ideas heard and getting those in the dorms involved.
"We're supposed to promote diversity, and awareness of other people - not just of different ethnicities, but of different religions, beliefs, lifestyles and cultures," Nov said. "Part of the reason it's harder is that there are only two CDAs in each dorm, while there are a ton of RAs."
Associate dean of students Dick Mandeville agreed it can be easier for resident assistants to organize events since there are more per dorm. He also pointed out that those who supervise other student leaders such as senators, CDAs and small group leaders live off-campus. In contrast, the resident directors, who supervise the RAs, live in the dorms with them.
"That gives an RA more direct, more frequent contact with the person who directly supervises them," Mandeville said.
Junior Anna Jen, a CDA for Ballard-Schumacher-McMillan, said at the beginning of the year she felt less important, and a bit isolated.
"But not anymore," Jen said. "I think the RD makes a big difference in whether all the leadership feels involved and important, and Sean Mulcahy does a good job of including everyone."
Sophomore Jeremiah Sataraka, a CDA in Warren, agreed that his resident director, Tyler Pau, has been a big influence on him, and has made him feel welcome. He also said that Esther Louie, assistant dean of intercultural student affairs, was very influential in preparing him for being a CDA.
"She provided us with enough time to train us, inform us, have one-on-one time with us," Sataraka said.
Sataraka said he thinks it is important to realize that each leadership team is going to be different.
Junior Nissana Nov was a cultural diversity advocate in Warren Hall last year. She said she began the year with a huge vision for herself to impact those around her. However, she found that she and the other CDAs had more trouble than other student leaders in making their ideas heard and getting those in the dorms involved.
"We're supposed to promote diversity, and awareness of other people - not just of different ethnicities, but of different religions, beliefs, lifestyles and cultures," Nov said. "Part of the reason it's harder is that there are only two CDAs in each dorm, while there are a ton of RAs."
Associate dean of students Dick Mandeville agreed it can be easier for resident assistants to organize events since there are more per dorm. He also pointed out that those who supervise other student leaders such as senators, CDAs and small group leaders live off-campus. In contrast, the resident directors, who supervise the RAs, live in the dorms with them.
"That gives an RA more direct, more frequent contact with the person who directly supervises them," Mandeville said.
Junior Anna Jen, a CDA for Ballard-Schumacher-McMillan, said at the beginning of the year she felt less important, and a bit isolated.
"But not anymore," Jen said. "I think the RD makes a big difference in whether all the leadership feels involved and important, and Sean Mulcahy does a good job of including everyone."
Sophomore Jeremiah Sataraka, a CDA in Warren, agreed that his resident director, Tyler Pau, has been a big influence on him, and has made him feel welcome. He also said that Esther Louie, assistant dean of intercultural student affairs, was very influential in preparing him for being a CDA.
"She provided us with enough time to train us, inform us, have one-on-one time with us," Sataraka said.
Sataraka said he thinks it is important to realize that each leadership team is going to be different.
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