Over the next two weeks, students will have the opportunity to acquaint themselves with nearly a dozen visiting RLC candidates.
Part of Student Affairs’ hiring process to fill open RLC positions in LooseHead, Clangrala, Jamaland and East Campus, the visits by candidates for RLC positions will include lunches and meetingss with students. The positions of Northeast and Southeast will be merged into the East cluster, and a Lily intern will serve RLC duties for Smounker.
According to Dean of Students Travis Greene, the main factors in the job search include an understanding of self-governance, experience at a liberal arts college, and a commitment to stay for at least a full year.
“What we did is we went to three different conferences and did some screening for these different candidates,” Greene said. “They’re all really jazzed about being in a place where students govern themselves, hold themselves accountable, and have goals and aspirations.”
According to Greene, among the candidates are residents from Iowa, a Grinnell Alumni, and employees from Bard and Vassar.
The 11 RLC candidates have all either attended a liberal arts college as an undergrad, or previously worked at one.
SGA President Neo Morake ’09 said she believes that an RLC should also be able to be trusted by the student body. “I tell people [the RLCs] need to be like [Loosehead RLC Kim Hinds-Brush],” Morake said. “The majority of students should be able to go to you to trust you with their problems.”
Even though all the new candidates have to meet a variety of different requirements, Greene said that they understand Grinnell and the student body. “I think all the folks we’re bringing understand that college students are adults, they sometimes struggle with making decisions, sometimes like I do,” Greene said. “But they’re committed to being there when students make mistakes, and give help and assistance when needed.”
“Even though Kim attended a big university, she understands how Grinnell works, and that’s the kind of quality we’re looking for in a candidate,” Greene said.
RLC candidate Kat Pickens ‘06, an alumna, returned to campus on Wednesday for lunch and a meet and greet. She highlighted the college’s diverse student body and cited the difference between Grinnell and a large university like the University of Iowa, where she received her masters.
“At Grinnell it’s implied that when you get here, there’s a community and at [the University of Iowa] that’s not necessarily the case.” Pickens said. “ I know I didn’t come here for the staff or faculty, but really for the students.”
Current Jamaland future Loosehead student staff member Adam Lange ’11 believes that Picken’s background as a Grinnell student will help her if she becomes an RLC.
“She understands the Grinnell philosophy that really attracts students here for the first time,” Lange said. “It’s important for an RLC to have the beliefs and values of self-governance.”
