Owen Durka embodies what it means to support students through community and connection at Slippery Rock University.
Durka, a junior industrial and systems engineering major from Charleroi (Charleroi HS), is a community assistant in Rhoads Hall, one of SRU’s traditional-style residence halls. He values the campus community that led him to enroll and thrive at SRU.
As a CA, Durka serves nearly 50 fellow SRU students who live in Rhoads Hall. CAs are paid to assist students with academic and personal referrals, enforce residence hall policies and provide other problem solving and leadership support.
When he’s not in the residence halls, he’s forming relationships at the Aebersold Recreation Center or as part of The Harbor, a faith-based student organization.
“Rhoads is one of the most community-oriented buildings,” Durka said. “I have people in the common room all day, sitting and talking or doing work together. There’s a lot of friendships developed here, especially with freshmen.”
Durka previously lived in the residential suites on campus, where students have private bathrooms and smaller common spaces. In the traditional dorms, he encounters an experience that is more grounded in communal living.
“If you live in traditional housing, you won’t have trouble making friends,” he said. “It helps you to be in a social environment.”
CAs have a unique opportunity to apply leadership skills in interpersonal circumstances. When conflict arises, Durka can practice empathetic and informed problem-solving.
“As a CA, you don’t always know what situation you could get,” he said. “It requires you to be in some uncomfortable situations, but it also shows you how to deal with them.”
Durka acknowledges that the good times far outweigh the difficulties.
“The beautiful part of this job is that you not only get to help people, you also get to learn about yourself and grow,” he said. “This job allows me to spread the kindness and light that we need to live in.”
More information about CAs is available on the Residence Life page of the University website. More information about residence halls is available on the Housing page.
