Over 60 students staying at Salve this summer

By: Bryan Belmore
Posted In: News

Living on campus in the summer is both a job and a vacation for the students who get the opportunity to spend the summer at Salve Regina University.

The University offers students, freshmen through juniors, a chance to work and live in Newport, R.I., in the summer. The students must work 35-40 hours a week for the school, and in return receive free room on campus, a chance to enjoy the beaches and the city of Newport in the summer, and even keeping their car on campus. The only thing that must be paid for is meals – $2 for breakfast, $3 for lunch, and $4 for dinner.

The program starts May 24 and runs through Aug. 13. This summer there will be 66 students staying on campus including four Residential Assistants (RAs). All will be working in various offices and departments around campus like the library, housekeeping, food services, and the conference center. The students in these positions will make minimum wage, which is $6.75 per hour.

In addition to the staff working and living in Carey Mansion there will also be a staff of Orientation Leaders (OLs) who will live in Miley Hall. They will be there for the entire month of June and will earn $1,000 for the month of work.

For many students staying it will be their first year on campus in the summer. For them it’s a whole new experience that they are looking forward to. Whether it’s meeting new people or just being in a city like Newport in the summer, either way they are looking forward to the opportunity that they have to stay on campus.

For other students this will be their second or third year this summer. They already know the joys and the work load that will be placed upon them, but they know in the end that it is well worth it since they are coming back again this summer. It also gives them a chance to meet new people and to make new friends.

“I am from New York, and Newport is a summer town it’s something different,” said Amy Cavanagh, a first-year student, who will be spending her first summer in Newport. She will have little time to spend at the beaches between working for the housekeeping department on campus and for the Marriott Hotel off campus. Cavanagh plans on taking this opportunity to live on her own and to meet new people.

Freshmen Alison Philbrick will be an Orientation Leader in June and then will be working with food services for the rest of the summer. Working for food services will allow her to get her meals for free, the same goes for any other students working with the kitchens this summer. Philbrick is one of the few students doing both Orientation and work study on campus this summer.

Another Orientation Leader is sophomore Kathleen Styger who will be making her first stay on campus. Unlike Philbrick, Styger will only be staying the one month to work as an Orientation Leader, but hopes to have a chance to experience Newport while she’s here.

Sophomore Lynn Miserocchi will also be spending her first summer on campus as one of the Residential Assistants. Miserocchi said she is excited about “the experience of not going home and being on my own for a whole year.” Miserocchi will be working Residential Life as well as working at Rhode Island Hospital and taking a summer course. Miserocchi will have little time to enjoy the beach, but that’s no matter she looks forward to meeting new people and making new friends.

Junior Matt Kelly will be spending his second year on campus. Kelly will be taking full advantage of his time on campus as a Resident Assistant as well as interning at the public affairs office on campus. Kelly plans on enjoying the laid-back atmosphere as opposed to the stress of the regular school year. “As an RA [in the summer] you get to learn about residents without them being stressed,” said Kelly.

Sophomore Robert Pesapane will be on campus for his second year as well. Pesapane will be working exclusively for the Gordon conferences. His job will start May 18 and end Aug. 15, and said “the good weather and a lot of activities,” will make the work worth the time.

“It’s easier to take the trolley,” said Pesapane about having a car on campus. The traffic is just too much and paying the $1.25 is worth it. Pesapane had the opportunity to learn about Newport traffic last year.

Junior David Spalding will be spending his second year on campus as an employee for the University Computer Lab. Spalding will be required to work 40 hours a week as well as working as a computer assistant in Cumberland, R.I., and taking a summer course, this will be a change from last year where Spalding was the Residential Assistant and also worked for security.

“I love the summer overall and I can’t wait for it,” said Spalding about his anticipation for the summer. Although he feels that “you work more then you get to have a good time.”

Staying on campus in the summer time is an experience and something only a few students get to have each year. Those who are staying this year can already anticipate the fun, and the work that they will have this summer. But in the end it all seems worth it because each of them is hopes to meet new people, make new friends, and put some money in their pockets.