At least 10 RAs have either resigned or been terminated in relation to an event which took place on Sept. 19, when several RAs held a small party where alcohol was present. Word about the party made its way to senior staff, and any RAs even loosely connected were either terminated or forced to resign on Oct. 7, regardless of whether they were of legal drinking age or not.

One of those involved said six of the RAs attempted to appeal the termination decision, which halted their access to dining halls and gave them a limited amount of time to find other housing arrangements.

“There were no residents involved, but because we failed to report we were all given the boot," Sandra, one of the deposed RAs who prefers to remain anonymous, said. "The (investigative) process took about a week and I was cornered into talking about the situation, where I eventually incriminated myself and said that I consumed alcohol."

Punitive Measures

Residence Education and Housing Services, or REHS, oversees RAs and administers discipline as it sees fit. In this instance, REHS cited a "failure to report" the incident by all those involved. Portions of RA contracts obligate them to report instances of law-breaking within residence halls.

With such a large number of RAs terminated, Sandra said she believes residents of Akers Hall will suffer.

“I am disgusted that REHS thinks the solution to this is to decimate their staff, ruin the remaining staff's morale and to put so many residents at risk,” Sandra said.

Sandra claims there aren’t enough alternate RAs to fill the spots made available by the firings, and that Residence Education and Housing Services is interviewing anyone “off the street” who believes they are capable. There is an alternative "pool" of RAs that REHS draws from when replacements are needed, sometimes reaching out to those who applied but didn't get a position.

“From my understanding. ... they have three alternates left in that pool," Sandra said. "So because the RA application process for next year just opened, they’re looking into that (group), but I was even asked for names of people who could fill my position — anyone that I thought would be a good fit."

Officials from REHS declined to comment on specifics of the incident, deferring to MSU Spokesperson Jason Cody. Cody also declined to comment on specifics, but outlined the processes by which RA punishments are handed down.

“RAs are responsible for the well-being of the students on their floor,” Cody said.  “That includes helping to enforce all the rules and policies. ... RAs are expected to live up to that standard."

Cody clarified the policies regarding alcohol use are consistent between RAs and all other students, and said there were no issues with finding replacement staff."Our RAs are always adequately staffed," Cody said. "At no time is there a lack of coverage for students." 

But for Sandra, the sting of losing her job is still something she is grappling with.

“I cared a lot about this job and dedicated my college life to it, and all it took was (the) thought that I drank with some (fellow) RAs to give me the boot," Sandra said. "Dedication did not matter, and I know RAs across campus feel very vulnerable."

Another RA involved in the situation was questioned about the events of that night, likening it to "an interrogation."

“I couldn't even believe what I was hearing," Cassidy, one of the RAs who asked to go by a pseudonym, said. "In one day I went from being a regular college student and dedicated RA to being homeless, unemployed, hungry and hopeless.”

Cassidy said the terminated RAs had 72 hours to vacate the building, unless they were to appeal the decision, in which they’d be given a five day extension.

“However, they cut off our meal plans within 20 minutes of being terminated. ... I (had not) been able to get food for 3 days,” Cassidy said.

Students Fight Back

Alternate housing options are provided for RAs who lose their jobs. However, many depended on the paid-for housing provided to Resident Assistants.

"My family cannot afford (housing) at the time being," Cassidy said.

Cassidy said many students consider the RA position because they cannot afford to live anywhere else.

"I would be forced to take out more student loans, and I would rather couch surf than do that," Cassidy said.

Cassidy was one of several RAs appealing the decision of their termination, but ultimately, her termination was upheld.

Some residents, in support of their RAs, have expressed their discontent with these decisions. One floor is gathering signatures for a petition to reinstate their RA.“We love our RA, we believe he’s done a great job," Earl, an Akers resident who also asked to remain anonymous, said. "It’s been a great honor to work with him, to live on the floor with him."

Earl and several other students from his floor drafted their petition on Friday, Oct. 9.

“Without him I feel like something important in my heart just like, left,” Earl said. “I feel like it’s been taken away, and I want the authority to know he’s really important to us, to the family of (our floor), to this entire building.”

Multiple residents in Akers Hall took to their open Facebook group to express their frustration with REHS and to share how saddened they are by the firings.