Guns is a big advocate for getting off of campus and exploring all that Milwaukee has to offer.

Ask Steve Guns what his favorite part about being a Resident Assistant is and you will get a long and heartfelt answer with a huge grin to accompany it.

“Wow, where do I begin? For one, it fits into my schedule and into my personality,” says Guns. “There are a lot of social and educational programs we do for the residents, too.”

One program Steve was especially excited about was last week’s Safety Dance held at both Sandburg and RiverView.

“It’s actually a lot of fun, and the residents seem to enjoy all of the skits we do,” said Guns. “For example, we had two girls pretend to leave their dorm unlocked, and then someone came and stole something out if it. Then we had the campus police come and talk about safety and things like that.”

In addition to being a firm role model for all 70 of his house residents on the 16th and 17th floors of Sandburg’s East Tower, and in between handing out juice boxes and peanut butter-and-jelly sandwiches at regular house meetings, Guns is a big advocate for getting off of campus and exploring all that Milwaukee has to offer.

“Just a couple weeks ago an RA from Purin Hall and I arranged a trip to Discovery World, and it was so much fun,” said Guns. “We took the bus and it was so easy to get there. Not enough students realize how to get to these places or how great Milwaukee really is.”

Hailing from Oconomowoc, Wis. and spending his last three years in Milwaukee, Steve is no stranger to the world that surrounds him. In his spare time he likes to research fun and exotic places to visit, and on his breaks from school, he actually goes to these places.

“Last year I went to Paris, and over summer break I went to Nicaragua for two months to visit a friend,” admits Guns. “This past winter break I was in Germany for 10 days and celebrated New Year’s Eve there. I’m young now, and I have the time now. So why not?”

He cringes when he says, “Can you imagine, one day we won’t have a summer break. What is that like?”

However, Guns will not be running out of summer breaks any time soon. Right after graduating with a degree in Communications, Guns will to go to graduate school.

“Anywhere,” he says about where he will continue his education. “It doesn’t matter because I will always come back. This is where I want to be.”

Being an R.A. isn’t always easy, but Guns does say that he is one of the few lucky ones who don’t have a horror story. He’s waiting for the day that he has to confiscate something illegal or, even worse, clean up vomit.

“Something bad will come, I know it will,” he says.

But for now, nothing bad can come his way. Guns decided that he wants to go into the Administration Residence Life area after grad school. He loves being on campus and would love to be the one with his own office someday.

When asked what he would tell anyone thinking about becoming an RA, Guns says that it’s very worth it.

“There is so much you can hope for,” he says. “And I always try to hope for the best."

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