By SHAWN P. O'LEARY
Forum Editor
 

One program, entitled Hypo-halls, which I found to be of the most value entailed RCs creating and playing out scenes which they felt a JA may be likely to encounter over the course of the year. This program provided the participants with something that most of the other programs did not: training. As three and four year students of Bates College, the JAs and RCs know where to attain their room keys, who to call when damage is done to their dormitory, etc.

Another program which relied heavily on interaction and discussion was conducted by Director Brasuell, entitled: "A Multicultural Community - Pluralism at Bates". This program sought to help participants realize that norms can neither be readily identified nor established, history is taught differently from various perspectives, and to be mindful that life in a multicultural community requires respect and acceptance of others and their beliefs. As Director Brasuell stated, "People don't see themselves as taking responsibility for each other as members of a community".

Most of the remaining sessions, whether as valuable as suicide prevention and conflict mediation or as seemingly unimportant as key distribution at the physical plant, consisted of speakers pontificating from a podium. Often times, the sessions were held in the same location with little or no interruption. This resulted in a collection of JAs and RCs who were bored, drained, and missing information which may be of use to them at some point in the upcoming year. Furthermore, the bulk of the sessions were held during the business hours of the college, preventing JAs and RCs from attending to any business they may have had without skipping out on one or more of the sessions.

Perhaps the most disturbing aspect of orientation for JAs is that it is immediately followed up by a week of first year orientation including mostly the same speeches by the same presenters. In the interest of saving time and resources these sessions should be consolidated, thereby allowing more time for JAs and RCs to attend to their business when they first arrive at the college.

RC/JA orientation week should be viewed as an opportunity to provide JAs and RCs with the practical skills they will undoubtedly need during the course of the year. Therefore, the week spent prior to the arrival of the first years should consist of training rather than orientation. It was obvious that each of the presenters felt strongly about their role in the operation of the college and the lives of the students, however, the bulk of the week's sessions consisted of informational rather than instructional presentations. The opportunity for a quality week of training is present, so long as the college abandons the concept of orientating three and four year veterans of the school.