Background checks for RAs a reality

Bernard “Junior” Morris being arrested on more than a dozen charges. Police said surveillance cameras were found in students’ apartments following spring break and Morris, a 23-year-old former resident assistant at the university was seen entering the female students’ rooms during the break. The mother of one of the victims was calling for background checks on RA’s, believing the the assistants are in a position of trust, and should live up to such expectations. The next step in that saga has developed, and state officials approved the measure as an amendment to Senate Bill 1648/House Bill 1951. Under the amendment, any person who would have access to student rooms would have to undergo the checks before being hired. The law will be named after Ganus‘ daughter, Kristen Azevedo, who attends UT Chattanooga. “These students were under very serious threat of harm,” Gresham said in a statement. “This offender had an extensive and alarming history of crimes against women. Although I am pleased that the university system has developed a policy that includes background checks systematically, we need to put this in state law so years from now, we do not become lax in ensuring student safety when it involves access to their rooms or apartments. I applaud Kristen and her family for coming forward to push for changes in our law to keep this kind of crime from occurring to any other students in the future.” Ganus said she’s thankful for Gresham and her staff for pushing to have it become a law, which will go into effect July 1. Such a move no doubt comes at a cost for the university, both in terms of finance and time, but with the safety of students being the top priority, it is a price they are willing to pay. With this being one of the first cases of it’s kind, it will no doubt be interesting to see whether other colleges begin to follow suit.]]>