New Resident Coordinator Encounter Challenges
Alexander wants to bridge relationship with students
Stacia Weaver
Issue date: 4/7/08 Section: News
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"I've heard that I was a psycho, I don't have anything better to do with my life besides give fines, I'm trying to stop people from graduating," said Alexander in an interview with The Lincolnian. "No, I do have a life but I've never felt like a student, but more of a serious person," she said.
Alexander is a graduate of Westchester University, where she majored in communication studies with a focus in public relations. Her initial plan was to utilize her degree as a public relations employee for an African American company.
"After graduation, I didn't feel like I was worth being a hype man," said Alexander, who came to the realization that working in student affairs would be a more suitable, rewarding position.
Having attended all white institutions since high school, Alexander chose Lincoln University as her employer because she wanted to work at a Historically Black College.
"I had a prejudice resident advisor who the resident coordinator would support at Westchester," said Alexander who added that she never received a fine at Westchester.
As a resident coordinator, Alexander is in charge of keeping the environment safe, clean, conducive to learning, supervising the resident advisors and working close with house keeping.
"I have no control of students. The only thing you can do is put up fines," she said.
Alexander said that she believes the best way to conduct and effectively impact positive behavioral performance amongst students is to "ask first and move up from there. If they do it, that's great, if they don't, then implement rules," she said. "[I have to] let students know what is expected of them. If they don't follow expectations, face consequences. There has to be consistency."
According to Alexander, her partnership with resident coordinator Kalisha Turman has its advantages especially when it comes to maintaining consistency. "Students don't get away with much. Things I'm a stickler for, Kalisha's not, and vice versa," said Alexander.
On another note, in dealing with two people, students can confide in Turman about issues that s/he may not feel comfortable talking to Alexander about because "they don't know me. But that's good, because we're here for students."
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