The Journal of College and University Student Housing - Volume 37, No. 2 - 75

Resident Assistants as Rule Enforcers

By handling incidents in an impartial manner, RAs help ensure the fairness, predictability, and efficiency of the residential life office . Yet within the student community, RAs occupy simultaneous positions as peers/friends to other students, including residents .

conflict is likely to affect the residential life office’s operation and effectiveness.

Role Conflict
Past research has explored RAs’ job satisfaction, stress, and burnout in relation to their multifaceted roles (Benedict & Mondloch, 1989; Deluga & Winters, 1990, 1991; Fuehrer & McGonagle, 1988; Hardy & Dodd, 1998; Hetherington et al., 1989; Nowack, Gibbons, & Hanson, 1985; Paladino et al., 2005; Schaller & Wagner, 2007; Winston & Buckner, 1984). However, few investigations explicitly acknowledge the conflict that arises when RAs’ personal relationship with residents competes with their disciplinary role (Deluga & Winters, 1990; Jaeger & Caison, 2006; Rubington, 1990; Schaller & Wagner). In one study, Schaller and Wagner interviewed sophomore RAs in first-year residence halls and found that, although the RAs befriended residents, especially those on their own floors, some felt torn when their friends accused them of neglecting their friendships. The RAs “struggl[ed] to cope with the expectations placed on them by supervisors . . . or their friends” (p. 42). The RAs in this study knew that policy enforcement was a central part of their jobs, but they felt unprepared for their role in the disciplinary process and for confronting residents about rule infractions. Additionally, they were uncomfortable about how such confrontations affected their personal relationships with residents. Similarly, in Rubington’s (1990) study of RAs’ enforcement of the alcohol policy, RAs had problems exercising authority over residents. RAs’ greater personal knowledge of residents on their own floors (in comparison to residents on other floors in the building) led to differential enforcement of the alcohol policy. Rubington (1990) also found that RAs
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breaches of hall policy are RAs’ most frequently reported problem (Twale & Burrell, 1994), they probably face frequent situations involving their residence hall friends’ policy violations. Second, because they work and live among their peers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (Hardy & Dodd, 1998; Hetherington, Oliver, & Phelps, 1989; Paladino et al., 2005), RAs interact with their residents constantly, both personally and professionally. Third, because the RA role never ends (Paladino et al.; Schaller & Wagner, 2007), RAs may feel obligated to fulfill the job responsibility of rule enforcer even when they are off duty. These features make it difficult for RAs to compartmentalize their dual roles of student peer and school representative and exacerbate their conflict (Hetherington et al.). Finally, the blurred boundaries between RAs’ social and work lives may heighten their dilemmas and the stress of enforcing regulations with friends (Hetherington et al.). As a source of job stress, role conflict negatively impacts RAs’ job performance, job satisfaction, and satisfaction as a student (Deluga & Winters, 1990). Thus, whether and how often an RA experiences role

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The Journal of College and University Student Housing - Volume 37, No. 2

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Journal of College and University Student Housing - Volume 37, No. 2
