Amid the sea of chaos surrounding student arrival for the Fall Semester, resident assistants are buoys for students trying to stay afloat.

But at the same time, student arrival can be hectic for RAs. Alyssa Schultz (senior-anthropology), an RA in Hoyt Hall, was just getting some of her possessions out of storage Monday night -- a week after her arrival.

Schultz, a first-year RA, said much of her preparation for the students was spent making name tags and bulletin boards, as well as attending training meetings.

Joe Puzycki, associate director for the Office of Residence Life, said RAs train extensively to learn how to handle different situations, such as students adjusting from being away from home for the first time. He added that RAs also discuss University policies on issues such as alcohol abuse and escorts on the floor.

"The RAs reach out to the students and provide educational programs for them," Puzycki said.

Samantha Sperry (senior-human development and family studies), an RA in Cooper Hall, said she held a special meeting for her freshmen residents to explain University policies and to tell them how to find different University services and buildings.

Sperry said her group seemed rare because of its interest to go out and get involved.

"One of the first questions they asked was where the men were," Sperry said.

She added she took some students to orientation activities and held dinners in the dining hall for her floor's residents.

Although the bulletin boards and name tags are simple things, Ben Branch, an RA in Shunk Hall, said these things give students a feeling that they are welcome.

Branch (junior-architectural engineering) said he relates to the new students' feelings because this is his first semester at University Park. He added that he participated in many tours and tried to acquaint himself with the different services on campus.

Branch said one of the funnier aspects of arrival day is when students realize the barrier between RAs and other students.

"Parents look at us (RAs) differently, as a source of information," Branch said. "Students are like, 'Don't talk to that guy.' "

Branch was an RA at the Mont Alto Campus and said orientation activities are much different at University Park.

"Branch campuses are not as hyped up, there's not 3,000 students involved," He said.

One aspect of the RAs' preparation for student arrival that Branch would like to see done differently is to have more time dedicated to organizing student arrival. He added that too much of a new RA's orientation is dedicated to things covered in class.

"I would like to see us have more time to spend with the Orientation Leaders," Branch said.

He said if the RAs and the orientation staff were able to know one another better, it would enhance communication and enable them to help the students moving in.