The year of and after an election can be especially tense and full of big feelings. With the current administration making changes and throwing out new decisions what feels like everyday, things can feel unstable and uncertain. Whether you support the current president, detest him, or don’t have strong feelings, so much change is hard to keep up with and can be stressful.
Because being an RA or student working directly with other residents is a relational job, residents may confide with their RAs on how government change is making them feel. Hopefully you are a safe person for residents to talk to about tough topics. When a resident brings up their feelings on politics, it can be tricky to respond in a way that is genuine, caring, and appropriate considering your position as a leader. So, let’s talk about some tricks for excelling in your role while being true to yourself in the midst of a polarized political climate. As a disclaimer – these are just my thoughts on the topic, you should follow what your office or director instructs you to do in these situations first.
Listen, don’t react
No matter what your resident is saying to you about politics, don’t react, just listen. You’ll want to turn on your active listening skills and hear what it is they are saying. Listen to the feelings and emotions more than their political opinions. You are here as a support for the residents, not to convert them to your political leanings. Think about what resources you can offer to help them with their emotional response. Suggest counseling or a group on campus with similar beliefs. Affirm their feelings. You don’t have to support what they are saying, but it is important to understand that what they are feeling is valid and they deserve comfort and support.
Be true to you
When someone says something that you disagree with and that you don’t intend to argue with, lying and agreeing with them feels like the easy way out. Please don’t do that! By agreeing with everything your residents say, you are missing out on a great opportunity to showcase healthy disagreement and dialogue that does not become explosive even when there is little or even no common ground. Instead, if the situation occurs where you feel it will be best for you to share your thoughts, do so respectfully. Start with an affirmation of what they have shared with you. But follow it up with what you think. For example: “I hear what you’re saying, I actually think…” or “Thanks for sharing your perspective on that, I think we feel differently on this topic.” Stand strong in what you believe and explain what you think so they understand where you are coming from, not to try to change their mind.
Stay up to date
It is also important to stay up to date on world news and what is going on in politics. Even if world events and politics don’t interest you much, having knowledge on different events and the varying feelings people have about those events is helpful for knowing how to support your residents. If your resident brings up something going on and you don’t know about it, it is hard to respond in a way true to your own values without knowing all the sides of the story. It is also helpful to know what’s going on so you can address situations that arise around divisive subjects. It can be difficult to know how to handle a touchy situation or how to support distressed residents if you are unaware of what is causing the situation to be uncomfortable. Find reliable news sources from different perspectives and make sure to check in on the world regularly.
To be totally honest, it can be hard to support people you disagree with. But remember, just because you are there as a support, does not mean you have to agree with anything your residents say. Always be true to who you are. You can be kind and provide help to your residents and still disagree with everything they say. We are all trying to figure out the best way to interpret the wild things that go on in our world. When it comes to navigating the polarized political climate as an RA, have respect for your residents by listening with the intent to understand them and demand respect back by letting them know your honest feelings on things too. You and your residents both deserve to have a voice in these issues; it’s just about knowing when and how to engage in these types of difficult conversations in your role as an RA.
