Conference to address residence halls issues

This weekend, hundreds of college students from around the state will converge on campus for the first Conference for Indiana Student Staff.\nCISS is a chance for resident assistants and student staff from public and private institutions across the state to compare practices and disucss residence hall issues.\n"It's an extension of training and an opportunity to network and gain insight with student staff across the state," said Chuck Lepper, residence manager for McNutt and conference co-host. \nResident assistant conferences were first planned for Indiana during the early 90s. But interest and participation waned, and the last conference was held in 1998 at Ball State.\nLepper and Sara Ivey Lucas, a graduate student and residence manager for Collins Living-Learning Center, said they saw a need to start the conferences again. They have since expanded the conference to include student positions like community educators (for diversity) and alcohol/drug peer educators. \n"I think it's going to be a lot of fun for our staff and others. It's a great chance to learn and for IU to showcase our residence halls and housing system," Lucas said.\nThe conference opens Saturday morning and ends Sunday afternoon. Organizers expect about 240 attendees, including 109 IU students and 14 of IU's full-time professional staff.\nThe conference includes a case study competition -- giving students a situation related to what they might face as an RA or student staff member, with a half hour to reach a solution and present it to judges. \nAll IU resident assistants are required to participate in the conference in some form. This can range from hosting a student from another school to making a presentation at the conference.\nJennifer Samuels, a junior in her second year as an RA, will be presenting with the Wright Quad leadership team and the RA advisory council.\n"I'm excited about hearing how other schools run their RA systems and programs," Samuels said. \nHanover, Valparaiso, St. Mary's, Manchester, University of Evansville, Ball State, Purdue, Marion, Depauw and the University of Southern Indiana plan to attend.