AR dismissal leaves RA's puzzled over job security
HELENA PAYNE
News Editor
The six resident assistants of Pasquerilla West say they feel that their jobs are on the line after the dorm's rector asked former assistant rector Cynthia Phillips to leave the residence hall.
Since several dorm residents have been outspoken on Phillips' behalf claiming there was no valid reason for PW rector Sister Sue Bruno's decision, RAs are questioning whether their support of the former AR would result in the termination of their hall staff positions.
"We are dedicated to our residents and we love our jobs as RAs," said senior RA Gretchen Graff.
She and fellow RAs Beth Fruzynski, Elizabeth Kuck, Arianne Obering, Kristy Robinson and Lisa Tzareff said they are trying to promote unity among the residents in their sections during this time of frustration.
"Absolutely, unequivocally, I do not want to lose any one of them," Bruno said.
Many dorm residents rallied together to support Phillips, a second-year law student, after formally learning last Thursday in a voice mail by Bruno that Phillips would not continue as a PW assistant rector.
In the voice mail, dorm residents said Bruno did not give any explanation.
During the weekend, some dorm residents protested the decision by hanging signs around the dorm. One read, "PW deserves the truth."
Dorm residents received a voice mail from the hall staff Wednesday saying they had to take down the signs, but Phillips said the RAs were pressured to send the message from Student Affairs.
RAs also said a high-ranking official in Student Affairs warned at least one member of the hall staff that she could lose her job if she commented on Phillips' removal.
Bill Kirk, the assistant vice president for Student Affairs who is overseeing the situation, said he could not elaborate on personnel matters but added he did not put pressure on the RAs.
" I'm not in the habit of threatening people in that way and that's not something I would do," he said.
Both Kirk and Bruno refused to comment on the reasons behind Phillips' removal, saying the situation was a "personnel matter" and the University does not typically comment on such matters.
Yet Phillips said the fact that Bruno and Student Affairs are referring to the issue as a private personnel matter is what is most disturbing. Phillips, who said she did not plan to file a lawsuit contesting the decision, claimed her removal resulted from a personality conflict.
"Calling it a `privacy issue' is a misleading attempt to make it look like there is a legitimate reason that I am being forced to leave," Phillips said.
She added, "It makes it look I did something embarrassing or immoral."
Under the terms of her agreement with the University, Phillips will still receive her AR benefits of free room and board and reduced tuition for the rest of the academic year.
The confusion surrounding Phillips' circumstance has left many dorm residents questioning the motivation behind Bruno's action.
"As residents, we feel like we have the right to know what's been going on," said senior Jenny Theis.
Phillip's removal also alarmed several ARs in other dorms. Roughly 20 ARs sent a letter to representatives of Student Affairs on Oct. 14 supporting Phillips and questioning the reasons behind her removal. The ARs said they had not received a letter in response.
"I think that we all deserve to have the support of each other," said Lisa Jarmicki, a third-year law student in Walsh Hall and one of the ARs who signed a letter to Student Affairs. "I feel like as an AR my job could be in jeopardy and I don't know how."
"Although I have no doubt that would not happen to me because of my relationship with my rector, as a general policy, I think it is a matter of concern," added Stanford AR Kyle Forsyth.
All News Stories for Thursday, November 7, 2002
