While Dartmouth can seem lonely and quiet with only one class on-campus in the summer, Programming Assistants do their best to make sure there is always something to do on-campus.
Dean of Residential Life Mary Turco said PAs are "the student staff members in the residence hall who provide the programming opportunities for students in residence in the summer."
"They're really a student leader in residence," she said.
There are three programming assistants this term in addition to three programming liaison's who represent College affinity programs like Cutter-Shabazz Hall, the International Students residence hall and the Native American House, Turco said.
She said the two positions differ because programming liaisons are responsible for communication between the affinity house and the Office of Residential Life.
Kathy Domingo '96, PA in the Gold Coast Cluster, said her job is a cross between an Undergraduate Advisor and an Area Coordinator.
"You have to be able not only to program but also do administrative stuff," she said.
Domingo, who has been a UGA for the past two years, said it is much harder to program events in the summer because she is not dealing with freshmen.
"It's '97s who have already established their niche," she explained.
In the summer, Domingo judged, programming activities need to be more social.
Domingo said 30 students attended her most successful programming event when she invited History Professor Jere Daniell to speak about the history of Dartmouth.
Domingo said she was very surprised by the enthusiastic student response the event received and said one student even told her it was the best event he had ever gone to.
The hardest thing about being a PA is not having a support staff, which would be available to UGAs or ACs, Domingo said.
Domingo said she meets with other PAs and programming liaisons to discuss feedback about programs they have run.
"It's not nearly comparable because you're not nearly as close to the people -- you're not living with them," she said.
Domingo said she decided to work as a PA this summer because "basically I couldn't imagine being on-campus and not being involved in ORL."
On campus for her second summer, Domingo said she wanted to do something besides work on her thesis this term.
Domingo said the position also provides her with the opportunity to meet more people.
"If I wasn't a UGA or a PA, I wouldn't be able to say, 'Hi. I'm Kathy. I'm your -- ' fill in the blank." she said.
Also, Domingo said she thought the position would be an experience that would guide her next term as an Area Coordinator.
George Cheng '97, the PA in the River Cluster apartments, said he hoped to gain experience that would help him as a UGA next term.
"I love doing it," he said.
Cheng said this term "there was someone in the cluster who had a problem and I was able to help them out" -- something he said he would never have been able to do before becoming a PA.
Turco said part of a PA's job is to "serve as a knowledgeable resource person."
Turco said each PA and programming liaison attends a brief orientation program as well as in-service programs during the term.
Each PA, Turco said, uses a developmental programming method to focus on the development on the community service, emotional, intellectual physical, social, spiritual and vocational interests of its residents.
For example, Turco said programs that have run and will run this summer include: Fourth of July barbecue, a sophomore parents weekend barbecue, a speech by College chaplain Gwendolyn King about the effects of sophomore summer and the Dartmouth-Plan on relationships, a volleyball tournament and attendance at study breaks by Sophomore Class Dean Teoby Gomez.
As part of their jobs, Turco said PAs run a cluster council and provide programs out of an assigned budget.
Turco added that the students are not in anyway involved in College discipline.
