At the end of last semester, two North Quad resident advisers (RAs) voluntarily resigned from their positions. These RAs have since been replaced by two others; one moved from the Charles River Apartments to North Quad, while the other is new to the job.Ivelisse Riverra '04 was one of the RAs who resigned. She said she believes the Quad Director and Department of Residence Life were not very accommodating. She said RAs were often given assignments they were unhappy with, yet felt they "had no voice" in decision-making. "RAs ... feel like their leadership skills for which they were chosen for are not being recognized," Riverra said.

The loss of two RAs has led to changes in these predominantly first-year halls. "Anytime a staff member leaves the community, whether it be first-years or graduates students, it disrupts the community, because it is a member of the community that is no longer there. It is a transition," Director of Residence Life Maggie Balch said. She added that the Office of Residence Life works hard to assist the staff with such transitions, segwaying the new RAs into their residential community. Dayna Baker, the North Quad director, was unavailable for comment.

Resident Adviser Jennifer Mitzman '03 moved from Grad to North Quad this semester. She said she requested a move because she was interested in working with first-years in a hall setting, rather than with upperclassmen. "There are huge differences in some ways between an upper-class area and a first-year community, but (North Quad Director) Dayna Baker and the North Quad RAs have all been welcoming and helpful," she said. "I would not hesitate to go to any of them for advice, support or assistance, and because I have been an RA before they know that they can trust me to do a good job."

Mira Elias '06, a resident of one of the resigned RAs said she believes tension between her RA and the quad director led to the change. "(Dayna Baker) has made it very uncomfortable for a lot of RAs to remain."

Elias, however, also praised the work of her new RA, Rebecca Katz '05. "I really like Becca and think she is going to do an awesome job," she said. "She has made herself very available.