RA NYU Demands Better Response to Dorm Security Failures

There is a “clear and real” danger risk in NYU dorms, according to the RA group, which signed a petition asking for more training, protocol revisions and better communications.

Resident assistants working in NYU dorms are demanding the university respond to a series of demands alleging that little has been done in response to recent oversights in dorm security. The RA group that signed the petition is demanding that NYU provide them with additional safety training, commit to meet deadlines for contact in the event of an incident, and end the “muzzle” policy that prevented them from speaking to the media.

There have been a number of incidents at New York University in the past year where intruders were able to bypass dorm security and break into dorm rooms, even to the point of infiltrating student rooms while they were sleeping. Four perpetrators reported coral tower, Alumni Hall, Third Avenue North And Lafayette Hall only in November. A few weeks later, President Andrew Hamilton ordered a security check of the hostel, resulting in security updatesincluding an increased security presence and the installation of additional surveillance cameras in residences on campus. Several RAs have stated that they were at the forefront of these dangerous situations without receiving the necessary training or compensation.

Each year at NYU, more than 250 students are selected as RAs and assigned to live and work in one of the university’s 20 student residences. They perform a range of duties, including resolving conflicts between residents, organizing programs, documenting rule violations, on night duty, responding to emergencies before the arrival of a professional response team, patrolling corridors, and working in a post office or resource center.

Student employees receive free housing and meals, but do not receive wages for their work as RAs or for the office shifts they are scheduled to take. They are also prohibited from interacting with the media without prior permission and control from their supervisor and the university public relations department. Some expressed concern about being able to ask questions or speak publicly about their working conditions, including compensation, training, and personal safety.

According to the request for lists requirements students, hostels are not currently prepared for invasions. The signatories are skeptical about whether the administration intends to address their concerns about the lack of adequate training in security incident response, compensation, and student safety measures. Tuition for RA takes place two weeks before the start of the fall semester and two full days before the spring semester.

The signatories of the petition have demanded that the hostel staff inform them of intrusion incidents in a timely manner, which RA alleges has not happened during past incidents. They are also asking the university to involve them in safety education in the future and to lift the policy that prevents them from speaking in public.

NYU spokesman John Beckman said the Office of Housing and Housing Services, which manages student housing on campus, is willing to work with the RA on the issues presented, but administrators were previously unaware of the issues raised in the petition.

“I spoke to my colleagues from Res Life and Student Affairs and they told me that they were puzzled that although there are many opportunities to note and discuss issues such as those contained in the petition, they have not heard about these issues. . popped up or asked, and they were not previously familiar with the petition,” Beckman said.

Fountain Walker, head of campus security, said his office had already been inspected. internal security checkin which the RAs were included. The intrusion response protocol written by the Residential Life and Housing Staff will also be reviewed during upcoming meetings with the RA, he noted.

Walker said that Campus Safety has nothing to do with the petition, despite the fact that the document is specifically about the department.

“This is a matter of concern for which Campus Safety is not directly responsible,” Walker said. “We are talking with the dean of students about the ad hoc addition of an RA representative to the committee or working group.”

Contact Nikki Mirala V [email protected]