Being a Resident Assistant isn’t just about hosting ice cream socials and playing peacekeeper, it’s basically being an unpaid superhero with zero recognition. At California State University, these student warriors are standing up and saying “enough” by pushing to unionize, and honestly? It’s about damn time.

More Than Just Free Housing

These RAs aren’t just collecting a free meal plan. They’re emergency counselors, midnight crisis managers, and community builders who frequently find themselves cleaning up literal and metaphorical mess. Yasamean Zaidi-Dozandeh, an RA at CSU Dominguez Hills, put it perfectly: sometimes they’re therapists, sometimes they’re doctors, always on call.

The Invisible Labor

Let’s break this down: RAs manage over 67,000 campus beds, handle everything from mental health interventions to helping students apply for food stamps, and receive zero actual salary. Their “compensation”? Housing credits and the occasional pat on the back. Universities conveniently ignore the emotional and physical labor these students provide, treating them more like volunteers than essential workers.

Fighting for Recognition

The current union push isn’t just about money, it’s about dignity. RAs want clear job descriptions, workplace protections, and recognition that their role goes far beyond hosting karaoke nights. With other universities like Boston University and Georgetown already recognizing RA unions, Cal State is looking increasingly out of touch.

Bottom line: these students deserve better, and they’re not backing down.