With free HBO, living in an on-campus location and no monthly rent, working as a University resident assistant could seem ideal – until you get a late-night call to clean up urine.

“There are many advantages of being an RA, aside from always having someone to hang out with and the perks of living in the dorm in general,” said Mackenzie Madden, a junior and former Russell Hall RA from Waldorf, Md. “But getting called to clean up urine in the elevators at 3 a.m. is definitely a disadvantage.”

Because of the struggling economy, one of the most obvious incentives to being an RA is the free place to live.

“You get free housing, and you get a stipend every month depending on your year,” Madden said. “You have to work for it, but at least its free.”

In addition to the responsibilities of living and working with students, all RAs are required to work at least three hours each month at the community desk. Last month Madden made around $370 for her work at the desk and her other dorm duties.

“My only disadvantage was the time commitment,” said junior Kirk Stringfellow, an RA last year in Hill Hall. “With the free housing, monthly stipend and all the other benefits, it’s totally worth it though.”

Madden said she wanted to be a good resource for new students who had questions, problems or needed help with anything.

“It’s a lot of fun, really rewarding and you learn a lot about yourself,” Madden said. “It’s also a great experience and can apply to a lot of majors since you gain skills in leadership, time management, public relations, counseling and all other sorts of things that go into being an RA.”

RA applications for next fall are available online and due at 5 p.m. on Dec. 18, but it takes much more than completing an electronic application to land a housing staff position.

“We don’t look for an established skill set, but what we look for is the passion to help others become acclimated to campus and applicants who are trainable in terms of the qualities needed for the position,” said Scott Nelson, coordinator for undergraduate staff development.

Nelson said applicants must complete the online application and provide two references. After this step, applicants meet for both individual and group interviews in February.

“We usually get around 400 applicants each year, and the total number of all the staff this year comes to 163,” he said.

A new residence hall in East Campus will create 10 new opportunities for staff positions in Fall 2010.

“I would recommend being an RA, but not if you are only in it for the free housing,” Stringfellow said. “If you are going to be an RA you should be willing to help others, and you should really want to be bettering your housing community.”

Stringfellow said applying to be an RA is a very competitive process, and he did not get the job when he first applied.

“You have to be reliable, flexible, friendly, and you have to be able to be [students'] colleague and their peer, but also fill an adviser role for them,” Madden said.