Changes in Residence Life not felt strongly by students

Students might not know who Deborah Furka is, but she has control over a major part of their… Students might not know who Deborah Furka is, but she has control over a major part of their daily lives.

As the new director of Residence Life at Pitt, she oversees the department in charge of most everything dealing with life in University housing.

The position Furka now holds was changed from assistant to the dean for Residence Life to director of Residence Life when Denine Rocco resigned from the position July 25, 2003. Associate Dean of Student Affairs Birney Harrigan held the position of interim director of Residence Life until Furka took over as director on Oct. 1, 2003.

Furka said that, despite the big role of Residence Life in on-campus housing, students don’t generally see the effects of her daily work. The changes in the department, she said, will probably also affect them mostly in ways they won’t notice.

“I think that what they will continue to see is a staff that is very concerned about them in their development,” she said, “and as students, and as residence hall students who are growing, learning and developing within a community setting.”

Rocco resigned July 25 to work at the University of Akron as the interim associate vice president of Student Affairs, where former Pitt Dean of Students Sharon Johnson was working as the interim vice president for Student Affairs.

Furka came to Pitt nearly six years ago to work as police chief. Several years later, she became the director of public safety – a position that she held until her move to Residence Life.

She said that her other jobs here allowed her to become familiar with many of the people working in and with Residence Life, though she said she works with them in different capacities now than she did as police chief or director of public safety.

She added that her experience as a student security aide at Kent State, her alma mater, gave her “a really good base of understanding in Residence Life.”

“Because I had worked in the environment [of Residence Life] before, it was a matter of getting acclimated to the procedures in this environment,” she said.

In an interview last semester, Dean of Students and Vice Provost for Undergraduate Studies Jack Daniel said that he chose Furka because of her experience dealing with crises. He explained that, last year, many health and safety issues arose, both in residence halls and in fraternity houses.

This year, Furka said, things have run smoothly through the transition of leadership and a new title.

“I think the only challenge truly had been doing multiple things,” Furka said, referring to her work as interim director of judicial affairs. She was appointed interim director two and a half days after beginning her job as director of student life, but she said a new person was appointed to the judicial affairs job Jan. 2.

While Furka said the two jobs kept her constantly occupied, she gave credit to her new Residence Life staff for being “extraordinary, open and welcoming.” She added that they also helped by readily sharing information and “wanting to have a good department.”

“It’s a matter of trying to keep everything in balance,” Furka said of handling two jobs. “Also calling upon and relying upon those who have been here.”

“I’ve been really blessed in [my staff],” Furka said.

The change, she said, has been enjoyable because of the job she does, as well as the people with whom she works.

“It feels good being here,” Furka said of her new position. “I’m enjoying it tremendously. It keeps me working very closely with the student body.”

When asked if students could do anything to make things easier for those working in Residence Life, Furka said that things work best “if students live in the halls with a mutual respect for themselves, others and the facilities.”

She added that many students already live in such a way, making the environment “comfortable, safe and enjoyable.”

Beyond showing respect, students can help by taking an active part in programming, as well as other activities on and off campus, Furka said.

“There are a lot of things students can get involved in that will help them” in the future, she said.

Much of her work, she said, has gone toward “being able to get people in place.”

Some of these newly placed people include Deborah Walker, the newly appointed assistant director for community standards; Keyon Bonner, the assistant director of staff services; and Kathleen Kyle, the assistant director of programming. Each person, Furka said, will affect Residence Life in a different way: Walker by developing standards for activities and living within the residence halls, Bonner by developing training programs for and directly interacting with resident directors and resident assistants, and Kyle by developing new programming for resident directors and assistants.

“You program differently for your freshmen students than you would for someone dealing with a residence hall with primarily upperclassmen,” Furka said, explaining how programming affects students.

“This is the time when we can start really taking care of business,” she said. “Things will start to settle down and stay on a steady track and direction.”

Furka said that the operations in Residence Life have appeared “seamless” to students, thanks to the staff.

“It’s a job that goes differently every day, and there are always things to do, but it’s very rewarding,” Furka said. “I always thought that I would enjoy it – but I really enjoy it.”