There may be community advisors on every floor, but only the C wing of Douglas Hall gets to experience the Honors House Leaders.

Kate Braser, the program coordinator for the Honors Program, described the house leaders as being “the face” of the Honors Program to the students.

“We really look at them as the liaisons between the program and the Honors House,” Braser said.

Like CAs, the house leaders put on programs that students can enjoy. Some programs they host, Braser said, include book clubs and welcome-back barbecues.

Just before finals week, the house leaders host a “Don’t Stress the Test” event, which is designed to help ease the stress honors students may feel around testing time. No matter what the activity is, though, the primary duty of the house leader is to build communities, Braser said.

Students do not have a lot of time left to decide whether they want to be a house leader. Applications are due Tuesday. Braser said they’ve only received three completed applications, but 15 to 20 people are interested in the four slots available.

THE UPS AND DOWNS OF THE JOB

There are numerous benefits to being a house leader. House leaders get a room waiver as opposed to a room-and-board waiver CAs get. This means that house leaders have to pay for their meal plan, Braser said.

However, there are intangible benefits as well. Sophomore accountancy major David Hansell, a house leader who’s in charge of the Honors Lounge, said the relationships house leaders can develop are invaluable.

“Because you are seen as a leader, people feel more open to you and are more responsive to you,” Hansell said.

The relationship aspect was a major draw to the program for Hansell. He said he wanted to help people on his floor develop the relationships that make them become lifelong friends.

As for the drawbacks, Hansell said he was hard pressed to find anything negative about the program.

“It could be hard depending on who you are,” Hansell said in regard to a house leader’s responsibility to plan and coordinate events.

Qualities that house leaders should have, Braser said, include being a good listener and a good motivator, so whatever program they do host supplements the students’ education.