Day student Proctors have been accused of “doing nothing,” but the reality is much different.

Over the summer, the academic deans, including Dean of Students, Koritkowski, and Caroline Channell, Assistant Dean of Students for Community Life, met to figure out new ways to use the day student proctor.

In years past, students like senior Will Vachet believed day student proctors only “made sure nothing crazy happens at Reed.”

Bryce Akroyd, a senior boarder from Lenox Mass., felt similar.

“From my personal experience, I have never seen a day student proctor engage in any activities so I believe they do nothing,” he said, “However I don’t have enough information to know what they do.” Bryce is referring to an Oct. 2 assembly during which the day student proctors struggled to explain their new responsibilities.

Will and Bryce, however, are only familiar with what the proctors did before this school year.

But now that’s changing. Whereas the title was merely something students could pad their college application with, now this has been the first year that day students have been assigned a day student proctor. There have been new roles given to the day student proctors this year in a new revamped approach. Those new roles include Reed duty, day student support groups, Willympics leadership, and monthly meetings to improve day-student life.

Luke Green, a day student from Northampton, found his day student proctor this year to be very friendly and helpful.

“They reached out to me through email and asked if there was any questions.” he said. “They also reached out to let me know that if I had any concerns I can reach out. Also, they invited and supported participation for the day students to participate in Willympics.”

[Editor’s note: the author was Luke’s proctor this year.]

Luke then told the Willistonian that he enjoys having his own proctor.

“This is my first year with a proctor It helps me to know that an older student has my back.”

Caroline Channell, the Assistant Dean of Students for Community Life, and leader of the day student proctors, explained the new responsibilities attached to the role.

“The biggest update is that day proctors have a biweekly duty shift in Reed. Their responsibilities include accessing the activities bin, serving as a resource for all students but naming day students to express concerns, and keeping the space clean”

Channel is confident in the future of the revamped program.

“A day proctor is the bridge to the day and boarding life,  hey provide leadership in being a role model and serve as a liaison to the Dean’s office representing day student interests specifically” she said. “I hope to continue to grow this role as the year progresses and in the coming years. A change in school culture and programming doesn’t happen overnight, so I’m extremely grateful to the current day proctors providing ample feedback to me.”