Talking Stick - September/October 2017 - 13

Overheard in the Community:
Body Cameras for Staff
Most higher education institutions have policies and processes in place that
guide staff in handling students' misbehavior or crises, and these processes
typically ensure that the department of res life's actions and decisions are
documented separately and not blended in with those of other responding
authorities, such as campus or community police. And even though each
entity files its own report, the intent is to provide the fullest picture of the
situation. One way to do this is by asking res life staff to wear body cameras.
This topic brought in responses from a former RA and many senior
directors. Many shared concerns about student privacy and being able to
recruit future RAs. Some worried that just the mention of body cameras
would change the image of res life staff as creating a police state rather
than a welcoming environment. View the conversation and add your
comments at http://community.acuho-i.org/home and enter keywords body
cameras in the search box.
- Camille Perlman

". . . the need for
'just one more'
survey, focus
group, or
portfolio review
may be wise,
but it can also
be a way of
postponing action
and preserving
the status quo."
For more information about an
effective management strategy
see the story on p. 36.

Kennesaw CAREs
The department of residence life at Kennesaw
State University in Georgia and Campus
Awareness, Resource & Empowerment (CARE)
Services continue to help homeless students on
their campus. As reported in the September-October 2016 Talking Stick, CARE Services opened
the first apartment with a $25,000 donation
from a local charity, the Beacon Foundation
Charitable Trust. Now, a year later, they have two
two-bedroom apartments available for homeless
students. So far, they have served 11 students,
which includes their current residents.
Res life has extra housing to assist these students as well. When a homeless student at the
counseling center is in need of accommodation,
CARE staff reach out to housing with a phone
call. "Those who stay in the emergency housing
that the department offers are able to reside in
a single bedroom and shared bath environment.
We provide theme housing options for a number
of other student populations such as veterans,
GLBTIQ, international, and special needs," Jeff
Cooper, director of residence life, explains.

How have the two departments continued to make it work? "The relationship began when I observed a homeless student sleeping in one
of our community lounges," says Cooper. "I called Marcy (Marcy Stidum is the associate director of CARE's Counseling and Psychological
Services) on the phone to see what help she might be able to provide
given her work in the counseling center and her background in social
work. Helping get that student on her feet springboarded much of the
work for the department as it is known today."
-Camille Perlman
SEPTEMBER + OCTOBER 2017

http://community.acuho-i.org/home

Talking Stick - September/October 2017

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