For the first time in its history at Hillsdale, Alpha Tao Omega fraternity has a resident assistant.
The house of the newly revamped fraternity gained another resident when junior Ben Maddock, a biology major, moved in this semester.
Maddock worked as an RA in the Suites last semester, but said he wanted to move into ATO before his senior year so he could help shape the future of the house.
“I want to be in the house, that’s just where my heart is,” he said. So he went to Dean of Men Aaron Petersen’s office last semester and asked, “Can anything be done?”
The dean shuffled around the male RAs and found a way to let Maddock move out of the Suites and into the house. His salary comes out of ATO’s account, Maddock.
As an RA, Maddock helps hold the other residents accountable to maintain order in the house, said sophomore Cody Eldredge, ATO’s president-elect. Maddock added that he has the authority and responsibility to enforce the college’s rules.
“Enforcing the rules is never fun,” he said. “No RA enjoys coming down on somebody for drinking or asking somebody to take their girlfriend home. Nobody enjoys that.”
Regardless, he said his extra responsibility has not damaged his relationships with the other men living in the house. Maddock was also recently elected to be the fraternity’s chaplain.
