At the beginning of every semester, parents across the state try to put their worries aside and send their children to live at dorms, trusting the university to keep them safe. Residential advisors are the first line of defense at Sacramento State’s five student dormitories.

But background checks aren’t required for residential advisors, assistant director of housing and residential life, Jane Heaton, said. She added that they do check all applicants’ references and ask if they have ever been convicted of a felony.

“I would like to get there, but that would be a University thing,” Heaton said. “I think background checks should be done like they do with all teachers in (the) school districts. I think it’s a good idea.” Sacramento City Unified School District officials say that everyone in the district, including volunteers, is fingerprinted for background checks. Those fingerprints are then run through the U.S Department of Justice and the FBI’s criminal databases.

David Wagner, vice president of human resources for faculty at Sac State, said that faculty members aren’t given criminal background checks either, unless they fall into a position that would require them to have one. An example he gave was if someone at Sac State wanted to do volunteer work for the Sacramento City Unified School District.

According to the RA application, residential advisors are primarily seen as role models, leaders, staff and university support, and someone that can be turned to in a crisis or an emergency.

Each residence hall holds about 200-240 students, Heaton said, and an RA has access to those residents’ rooms and bathrooms, as well.

Residential advisors always work with minors. At the beginning of last semester, there were 135 students living in the dorms who were under the age of 18. Currently five students are under the age of 18, housing officials said.

Some of the basic questions that are asked on the application include the applicant’s full name, social security number, telephone numbers and major at Sac State.

Applicants are screened with a three-person reference check. Questions about the applicant’s communication, organization, self-confidence and leadership skills are among those asked of the references. But as with most references, they are provided by the applicant.

RA’s also undergo extensive training.

“We do safety education programs and sexual assault education (programs),” Heaton said.

David Lee, hall director for Sierra Hall, said the biggest security nuisance he sees in the dorms has to do with under-age drinking. “I don’t know if (security is) a big problem,” he said.

Draper Hall resident Brian Bartow, 19, said he knows his RA well, and feels comfortable in the dorms, but said he felt it was important that they got background checks.

For 20-year-old Emily Smith, a graphic design major, this is her first time living in the dorms.

“So far it’s been a lot more quiet than I thought it would be,” she said, adding that she is only a little concerned that advisors aren’t required to pass background checks.