The election is just one week away and residence assistants (RAs) are preparing for what the night may bring. RAs are already thinking about how to handle the election results, a particularly tricky feat when it involves students of different political views living in close-quartered dorms.
Americans across the nation are divided, and things are no different on the Fairfield University campus. A recent Mirror/Reaview poll found that 45 percent of students surveyed support Vice President Kamala Harris for president, while 37 percent of students support former President Donald Trump. Regardless of the outcome of the national election on Nov. 5, RAs are getting ready for increased disruption.
“I do expect it to be rowdy, considering our lounges have been very active this year,” Gonzaga Hall senior RA Olivia Zak ‘26 said. “I’m on duty that night, so it will be interesting. I’m just hoping I don’t have to be woken from my sleep after 12 a.m. to deal with a situation.”
Zak recently made a bulletin board on her floor titled “Don’t Boo the Ballot” with information and resources to help inform her residents about voting. Preparation ahead of election night has also involved extra training sessions for RAs. As Zak explained, these have included discussions about communication and emotion regulation. Additionally, psychotherapist Caitlin Hughes from Counseling and Psychological Services spoke to RAs on Oct. 27 about available resources and techniques.
“These initiatives are rooted in the understanding that professional development, in any field, is essential for workplace wellness, which contributes to overall well-being of self and our campus community,” Hughes said in a statement to The Mirror. “The trainings cover a variety of essential skills, including techniques for engaging in civil discourse, which reflects our Jesuit mission to promote dialogue, communication and a culture of understanding that respects and values each individual.”
Thea Bowman Hall RA Ava Grosso ‘26 said that although she’s unsure of what to expect on election night, the training from Hughes was “extremely helpful and even relaxing.”
“We focused on emotional awareness and sensitivity,” Grosso said. “I am not quite sure what to expect for election night. As an RA in Thea, I can’t imagine it will be too crazy but who knows.”
On the night of the election, an increased number Area Coordinators will be on call, assisting RAs. Starting at 4:00 p.m, Hughes will be available exclusively for RAs on election night, providing a designated place for them to share any concerns that may arise during the evening. There will also be drop-in hours at the counseling office– located on the bottom floor of Jogues Hall– for both RAs and their residents on Nov. 5 and 6.
“From our C&PS office, the embedded support counselor for residence life will be in-person on campus and available to RAs for consultation, supervision and debriefing throughout the evening until approximately 10 p.m. on election night,” Hughes said. “Stress reduction activities such as yoga, meditation and mindfulness will also be offered throughout the evening.”
On a daily basis, RAs are still continuing with their responsibilities as normal. Yet, they’re also simultaneously making preparations for the election as encouraged by Residence Life.
“We’re just continuing our day-to-day job during the election,” Regis Hall senior RA Jennifer Fajardo ‘25 said. “Though with the trainings and resources we’ve received, it seems that Res Life is expecting the halls to be crazy no matter who wins.”
As for juniors and seniors living on campus, the situation is somewhat different. Most on campus upperclassmen live with friends in townhouses rather than with random roommates and floormates. Yet, issues like noise are still expected by Townhouses senior RA Anna Tizzio ‘25.
“I expect the townhouses to have an ambiance of rigid divide on election night,” Tizzio said. “Depending on the outcome, there could either be loud parties extending beyond quiet hours or a dead silence all around. There might be one whole block that happens to share the same views, while another block has mixed views based on units. It’s hard to determine until the results come in. With this, I also anticipate more noise complaints than usual for a weekday night, consequently inhibiting other students’ sleep schedules.”
Noise was a common concern among the RAs consulted for this article, including those who don’t anticipate other issues. Zak said that while she’s not expecting any issues, she’s “more concerned with the noise level, as some of our residents don’t respect that a residence hall is a shared space.” Jogues Hall RA Lanyon Henwood ‘25, who reported receiving “minimal to no training” regarding the election as of Oct. 27, also said he’s simply “hoping it is quiet.”
With the election quickly approaching, students can turn to their RAs with concerns. “I plan on sending a message out to my [residents] reminding them to be respectful and considerate during this time while also inviting them to reach out to me if they need further support,” Grosso said.
Editor-in-Chief Max Limric is a Resident Assistant, and thus did not read, edit or have any part in the creation of this article before publication.
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