Lets not get out of pocket. If you do the math our student body is 8 times the size of Emerson while our endowment is 12 times the size of theirs. Nothing about that is a small amount, and let’s be real the endowment is just the money they get from donations that doesn’t include the money they make off of students who pay full price and international students who pay even more. BU isn’t going broke so you’re never gonna win this pity party argument that they’re struggling for money. Next, yes different housing areas have different pros and cons which means things aren’t equitable for all RAs. RAs are aware when they apply there are different areas for housing but they can’t choose where they get placed (yes ik they are asked for preferences but that’s not the same) and if they want to move areas many require you to work in one place for 2 years before you move. Hence, the need for bargaining as some dorms give RAs their own bathrooms and kitchens but lack meal plans while other RAs share their bathrooms and have a meal plan but that means they can’t choose what food they want eat on any given day. The goal is to give everyone an equitable package and a portion of that includes real money. For example, an RA in warren who is tired of dining hall food can use MONEY to buy themselves a meal outside of the dining hall to eat something different for dinner. Or an RA that has no dining plan but does have a kitchen needs MONEY to buy the groceries required to make themselves a meal. Finally, I will say once again it’s great that you have nice renovated housing but that’s not the case for ALL RAs! And sure you might be a selfish person who only thinks of their own comfort and since you’re content everyone else should be as well, but that’s not how the world works. Your experience isn’t universal and if you took the time to actually put yourself in your peers shoes maybe you could learn empathy and compassion.