Patrolling a hallway of their freshman dorm on a Saturday night, with the bass of stereos making the floors vibrate and the faint smell of stale alcohol permeating the walls, 19-year-old Jared Williams and Sara Adams, both resident assistants (R.A.s), were on the look-out for any "suspicious" activity.

Having to regulate and monitor the actions of residents is just one of the many realities R.A.s must deal with on a daily basis. After all, R.A.s are those people who look like college students, dress like college students, attend class like college students, and even act like college students -- for the most part, at least.

That's because these people are college students, but there is one major distinction between them and you: They're the ones who look after and keep tabs on you and your dorm pals. For the uninitiated, R.A.s are like informal, unarmed campus watchdogs. They live in the same buildings as other students, they can counsel and befriend their residents, and they regulate all aspects of dormitory living -- from asking residents to turn down excessively loud music to writing up residents for violating any school policy.

Regardless of what their job entails, R.A.s are still college students, and they are usually around the same age as those they monitor. This can create some turmoil when R.A.s have to do their jobs.

"When you are an R.A., you become very attached to some of the people within your building, but confronting them is part of the job," explains Mandy Thistle, who spent time as an R.A. and a head resident (H.R.) during three of her four years at Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove, PA. "When I first introduce myself to people, I express to them that if they are ever to be written up, it is their actions I am confronting, not them personally," Mandy says. "I try to stress to people that they have to be prepared for the consequences of their actions. Those who respect you realize the duties of your position, and when they get caught, they usually realize that you are just doing your job."

Jared agrees. "I've had to confront [my friends many times]. They realize that I'm just doing my job," he adds.

The Sound of Trouble
The problems that arise in residence halls are sometimes alcohol-related, Jared and Sara say, but other, more common incidents include property damage, excessively loud music, and tending to cries of "I locked myself out of my room." The number one R.A.-required regulation, says Jared, are stereos that blare frequently. Noise regulation so that other students can sleep or study is a primary issue

.Jared's method for determining if the music is too loud? "If the culprit's door is closed and I can still hear the tunes radiating from two doors down, I'll do something about it.

They've Got the Power
So, with the power to do something about any hallway situation, how do R.A.s work and live with fellow students?

"There are situations where I've felt left out because of the position I'm in," Mandy says. "But once people get to know me and put aside the stereotype they have of an R.A. -- those are the people who have become my closest friends."

Of course, R.A.s are students, too; they eat pizza at midnight and cram for exams until 4 a.m. just like their dorm counterparts. However, college dormitories can become hectic places at times, and R.A.s have to maintain a certain dignity that accompanies the position.

"I am constantly aware of the fact that I'm the R.A.," says Katie Pasek, who has been an R.A. for a year.

"We are role models no matter where we are," Mandy adds. That personality and attitude is reflected in the residents, for better or worse, Jared says, noting that the more positive and helpful he reacts toward his residents, the more positive and cooperative they are in turn.

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