Pictured above: North Rockefeller Hall on Mount Holyoke College’s campus, South Hadley, MA. Photo by Trinity Kendrick ‘21.
By Rehat Thussu ’24
Staff Writer
Last fall, Residential Life adapted its student staff to fit the new pandemic setting of both Mount Holyoke’s remote and in-person communities. Employees, formerly senior community advisors and community advisors, are now known as resident fellows and community assistants. This change came with an adaptation in responsibility for ResLife employees. RFs and community assistants are now responsible for both cultivating community and enforcing the student compact, both integral to the success of Mount Holyoke’s COVID-19 reopening plan.
The Mount Holyoke News spoke to four students about their experiences as ResLife staff on campus during the pandemic. One student requested anonymity. The interviews below have been edited and condensed for clarity.
Maya Mauroof ’22, residential fellow for Brigham Hall
Even though I had worked as an RF last fall, I was still nervous for spring since more people were moving to campus. The transition from fall to spring semester felt like doing the same job but on a bigger scale … with more residents on campus.
I was the RF for Wilder Hall last semester, which was on duty rotation with Safford [Hall] (meaning every night I am on duty, I have to do rounds in both buildings); this semester, I moved to Brigham, which happens to be on rotation with Safford again, so I am still having to do rounds in Safford in addition to the building I live in. So not much has changed for me. Same role, same pay, just more residents.
ResLife does an adequate job [of] making sure that all staff members know the existing policies and protocols through extensive training at the beginning of the year, along with continued practice exercises during our weekly staff meetings. However, I don’t think any amount of training can prepare us to deal with every possible scenario we might encounter on the job.
No matter how many semesters or years someone might have spent working in ResLife, it is just not possible to be fully prepared to deal with COVID[-19]-related challenges because none of us have experienced doing this job during a global pandemic — not even the professional staff. Fortunately for us, we have the support of professional staff to guide us whenever we … feel lost, confused or need immediate assistance.
Natty De Leon Urena ’23, community assistant for Brigham Hall
There have been quite a few changes due to the pandemic, which ha[s] significantly changed the role. For example, we cannot hold in-person events, knock on people’s doors or interact a lot outside of a Zoom context. These changes are of course necessary, but they also kind of make my job harder as a community assistant trying to create a small community for my residents. I’d love to prepare events with the help of my fellow CAs and leave my door open for residents to come through to talk, but sadly that isn’t a possibility. I really hope that next semester, things are better and … we don’t need to have so many restrictions.
ResLife did a fantastic job in training us for COVID[-19]-related challenges. We did a contact-tracing course training online, then had multiple Zoom sessions where we were able to ask questions on how to deal with COVID[-19]-related situations and where we also received specific orders on what course of action to follow in case of an outbreak. I feel quite prepared to tackle any issues, and we can always reach out to our supervisors for backup if needed. … I feel very prepared to work [i]n a situation like this.
Jasna Budhathoki ’23, community assistant for Safford Hall
ResLife has been preparing us well with handling difficult situations during COVID[-19]. I feel like my fall training has effectively taught me to handle policy violations during the pandemic. However, I do not feel anyone can be fully prepared during this unprecedented time, and we are learning new ways to tackle the situation as it unfolds. … I cannot say I am fully prepared to handle an outbreak if it happens on my floor.
In addition to the training, we often have open-door sessions during our weekly meetings when CAs and RFs practice confronting a difficult situation that may potentially arise with the residents. Experienced CAs and RFs also share their experiences and provide suggestions [for] how to handle a difficult situation better. I learn a lot every time I practice or watch someone demonstrate open-doors.
We also have learned new ways to build relations with our residents through inspiration conversations and star cluster meetings, and I am hoping that our residents find them useful too.
Anonymous residential fellow
To my knowledge, there have not been any positive cases in my building. ResLife told us that they would notify us if one of our residents tests positive so that we don’t get worried if a student on our floor goes missing. Many staff members have expressed frustration regarding the lack of transparency when it comes to this matter.
Although I understand that patient confidentiality needs to be taken into consideration, it is overwhelming when residents come to us with information even we are unaware of. For example, I heard about the Rockies [North and South Rockefeller halls] being on lockdown from some nervous residents before ResLife was able to notify me. Word travels fast in our community, but that was very frustrating and put me in a difficult position.
It was only after an entire building was put on lockdown that ResLife decided to answer questions about what would happen. If I remember correctly, ResLife would notify me if one of my residents test positive [and] the resident would then immediately be moved to isolation housing. Someone who spoke on behalf of … Health Services during a staff meeting advised us to encourage every resident to have a to-go bag ready in case they need to be moved to isolation.