The Colby Echo

Issue date: 2/23/07 Section: Opinions

Head Residents both enjoy special privileges and have serious responsibilities. When on-duty, patrolling HRs should wear conspicuous and identifiable clothing for two reasons: they will be more effective, and will literally and symbolically be recognized for their special status. I am proposing, therefore, that on-duty HRs wear reflective, neon vests.

On weekend nights, HRs play an important role in assisting students. However, it is often difficult to distinguish an on-duty HR from other students. Oftentimes, the only way to identify an on-duty HR is by seeing "the clipboard." However, I often see on-duty HRs who do not carry a clipboard. In that case, how can a student tell if someone is an HR or just another student walking down the hall? Common sense dictates that more students will ask HRs for assistance if they are clearly identifiable. Ergo, the campus will be safer if HRs will play a more prominent role (rather than Security) in patrolling campus.

More importantly, HRs should wear conspicuous vests because they have significant authority over other students. After all, they are the economic elite of on-campus jobs, and with their multi-thousand dollar salaries they can afford to buy sexy green neon vests.

HRs can levy citations against their fellow students. While this thankfully occurs rarely, HRs have significant institutional power. While masquerading as normal students when on-duty they enforce school policies, with the same authority as a Security officer. Unfortunately, a small minority of HRs use their status improperly when on-duty. In one case, a first-year student made an admittedly snide remark to an HR (whom he thought was a fellow student). The HR responded with a power-tripping-esque retort, "I'm an HR, and you can't say that to me." Clearly, that student wouldn't have dared to insult an on-duty HR with a screaming-green-neon vest shining in his face (as opposed to an HR wearing the classic polo and jeans on a Saturday night).

The other important aspect of the proposed uniform wardrobe policy is the changing role of HRs at Colby. In the past, HRs played a less significant role in policing social life; alas, that has changed. When I was a first-year, HRs were mentors, committed mainly to integrating residence halls socially and assisting with underclassmen's transition from high school to Colby.

The HR system works best when competence in socializing with residents is the prime criteria for selection, not steadfastness in enforcing Colby's draconian social life policies. My hope is that first-year students can again look forward to an afternoon trip to Gifford's for ice cream with their HR rather than living in fear of undercover security lackeys.

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