As a graduate resident advisor (GRA), I provide guidance, resources, and a sense of community to the undergraduate students that live in MIT’s residential facilities. I live with and get to know my residents, help them build community with each other through social events, and support them as they navigate the challenges of being college students. Interviewing to be a GRA at MIT is a very thorough process, involving multiple rounds of interviews with both housing staff and students. In return for GRA-ing, I do not pay rent for my room. While working for an institution that plans for graduate student-workers to be severely rent burdened, the ability to save money on a graduate stipend is a huge financial advantage.
Starting my first semester as a GRA last fall, I was thrilled to get started and meet all my residents. However, I quickly discovered numerous issues. When I moved into my room, the ceiling leaked every time it rained. It stayed this way for three months. MIT administration has neglected to maintain their buildings for years, all while charging the same price for a crumbling building. Simple tasks like repairing the washer are left on hold for months with no update on when the repairs will be performed. MIT has identified over $2 billion in maintenance backlog on campus, and by their own admission, many of the undergraduate houses are in “poor condition.”