University of Virginia Library

Politicking With The Ruling Elite

[Approximately twenty-five Resident Staff members chosen
at random, as well as Mssrs. Canevari, Titus and Main and
First-Year Resident Staff Co-Chairmen Byrd Leavell and Ed
Wilson were interviewed in preparation for the articles on this
page. Space limitations prevent our printing all comments
received, but the attitudes expressed here represent the majority
opinions of those interviewed. Almost everyone interviewed
expressed some agreement. – Ed.]

Counselors are often told that the intangibles are what make
their jobs worthwhile...worth the study time missed because of a
crisis on the hall, the long two weeks of self and student
orientation before school starts, the sacrifice of apartment or
fraternity life, and the mounting piles of bureaucratic forms, as
well as the struggles with Housing and the ominous fact that you
are no longer living only for yourself but for 20 others.

If the essence of the counseling or resident staff program is
indeed self-torture, why have over 600 people once again applied
this year?

"There are a number of reasons, I'm sure," says Assoc. Dean
of Students Chester R. Titus. "But for one, I think the Resident
staff program has a certain unique status here at this University.
In fact, it has on occasion been explained as a breeding ground
for leaders."

"Some people do use the counseling system for their own
advancement, concurs Lawn Head Resident Jim Babb. "I think
there is a ruling elite at this school and the fact is the Resident
Staff program brings you into contact with a lot of influential
people."

"It's a good springboard into other fields," adds Dean of
Students Robert T. Canevarl.

"But the type of student who tries out for a counseling
position is at least more ambitious than the guy who sits around
his apartment all day," explains Mr. Babb. "He is more outgoing
and more confident. Thus, this can only be expected."

"Kids on the hall just don't like it, though, that their
counselors are so busy in other activities," says a current
first-year counselor. "The fact is, there are very few counselors
who are counselors and nothing else."

"This I believe is the basic problem, says former Humphreys
House counselor Doug Truehart. "People who get selected as
counselors are either so involved in everything else that they
cannot do a good job, or, as is the case with many first year
counselors, they use their positions to become involved in other
things, and then can't do a good job."

"I agree with that to an extent," says First-Year Resident
Staff Co-Chairman Ed Wilson. "For some, the program is better
for them than they are for the program. But then they are the
mistakes, I suppose."

"Lots of people do probably apply to the program with the
idea of meeting people," adds Co-Chairman Byrd Leavell." Of
course, this helps in elections, or whatever. Still, most people
seem sincere. Although there are those who want it on their
records, there are people like this in any organization."

"The resident staff program is a very popular one, and many
people apply who shouldn't," admits Mr. Wilson. "Also, many
good people are passed over, maybe as many as are selected. In
fact, five out of ten are probably very well-qualified."

Because of this selectivity, many people believe that
counselors form the base of a ruling elite at the University, and
because of this the feeling exists, as Mr. Babb says, "that
counselors will to a degree perpetuate their own kind."

Although Mr. Titus admits that a stereotype counselor is
theoretically possible," he asserts that "it doesn't shine through
very well to me."

Watson House Resident Assistant, Taylor Putney, agrees with
Mr. Titus to an extent. "I don't think you can really say that we
have exact stereotypes in this program, but then again, we don't
want someone who is going to turn the system upside down."

Since counselors are primarily selected through interviews, it
is this part of the counselor selection process which is open to
charges of "stereotyping."

"Put yourself in the place of the interviewer," says Mr.
Truehart. "Now if the guy says he's in it for a free room, you're
going to admire his honesty, but you're going to doubt the job he
can do. Thus, in the interviews you do of course come up with
some stereotyped answers."

The real complaint still involves the method of selection of
counselors. One former Kent House counselor contends that