University of Virginia Library

Titus Sets Request Date
For Resident Advisors

By BEVERLY DOWELL

Application procedures for first-year
resident adviser positions- delayed this
year by controversy over the program's
organization-have been announced by
the Student Affairs Office.

The positions are open to graduate
students with one years' residence at the
University.

"We are looking for good people who
can provide the kind of mature advice
first-year students need," Student Affairs
Vice President D. Alan Williams said.

"Hopefully we can attract another
younger faculty member or two," he said.

Assoc. Dean of Students Chester R.
Titus said, "we want to find people who
have the time and energy to be good
advisers."

Graduate Applications

"We are only soliciting applications
from graduate students, but I suppose if
anyone else is interested they will let us
know," Mr. Titus said.

A selection committee consisting of Mr.
Williams, College Dean Irby Cauthen, Mr.
Titus, one resident adviser and one
Executive Committee of Counselors
member will consider the applications,
which must be submitted by 5 p.m.
Friday, March 24, at the Student Affairs
Office.

Of the eight positions available, several
will be open, Mr. Titus explained, because
"several of the advisers are graduating and
we are presuming that they will not be
reapplying."

Mr. Titus last month announced
changes in the first year counseling
program which were to be implemented
next year.

The changes included the elimination
of the resident adviser positions and the
initiation, instead, of a graduate assistant
program.

Protests Delay Program

After protests by The Cavalier Daily,
counselors, resident advisers, and College
deans about the lack of consultations
before announcing the program, Mr.
Williams decided to delay full
implementation of the program for a
year.

Referring to past events, Mr. Williams
said, "hopefully we're off on the right
track again."

Resident advisers work with the senior
residents and resident assistant to
establish a sense of community and a
desirable living environment.

They also "provide personal academic
advice and counseling, inquire actively
about students' social needs and develop
and support a social program among the
students," the Student Affairs Office
announcement said.

The resident adviser must also advise
the Student Affairs Office and the
academic deans on "routine matters and
provide immediate and continuing
information on matters of unusual
significance."

Mr. Williams said he believes Assoc.
Law Prof. Charles Whitebread will
reapply, "but of course we won't expect
him to go through the same procedure as
those applying for the first time."