Friday, March 29, 2024

RHA considers new living requirements for caucus leaders

December 5, 2012

A new bill requiring all in-hall caucuses’ presidents and vice presidents to live on campus was discussed, but ultimately sent back to committee during Wednesday’s Residence Hall Association, or RHA, general assembly meeting.

The bill introduced by RHA Committee on Internal Affairs, or CIA, Chair Ellen Evans calls for presidents and vice presidents of in-hall caucuses to be on-campus residents. There previously was no requirement of this manner found in the RHA Constitution.

“I think it would be good because presidents and vice presidents of in-hall governments have access to the money of the on-campus residences, and though on-campus residences pay the RHA tax, (we) at the CIA felt it would be unfair for them to have access to that money,” Evans said.

Representatives of RHA agreed that in-hall government members should live on-campus, especially if they are representing their respective halls.

“If you live off-campus and you are the president of Case Hall or Holden (Hall), it’s just weird,” RHA representative Nick Stanek said. “I think if they can afford to live on campus, but (they currently) live off-campus, then they are not contributing.”

Red flags were raised involving caucus groups, such as the Black Student Alliance or the LBGT Caucuses, requiring their presidents and vice presidents to live on-campus because those organizations normally have upperclassmen in board positions.

“I completely agree with the in-hall caucuses living off campus, and I know there’s that fine line between leadership and choosing a candidate over someone else because they live on campus,” Evans said. “Once we take it back to CIA, we’re going to revise it for next semester and make it feel better.”

At Wednesday’s meeting, the bill went through a brief amending period, at which point RHA members discussed removing caucuses from the bill. Evans requested for the bill to be sent back to committee after a long debate period.

“I think we’re probably going to talk and (hear) everyone’s concerns on (including) in-hall caucuses or in-hall governments,” Evans said. “Most likely we’ll probably change it to in-hall governments, seeing as a lot of people weren’t (in favor of) making in-hall caucuses’ presidents and vice presidents.”

Wednesday’s RHA general assembly meeting was the final one of the semester. RHA will reconvene when the spring semester begins with a general assembly meeting on Jan. 11.

Support student media! Please consider donating to The State News and help fund the future of journalism.

Discussion

Share and discuss “RHA considers new living requirements for caucus leaders” on social media.