RHA leader made important changes during presidency

“When from these scenes we wander and twilight shadows fade, our memories still will linger where light and shadows played.”

So begins the second verse of MSU’s alma mater, a phrase that stands as a constant reminder that one’s time at MSU, like all good things, must eventually come to an end.

The question for each student is this: Did I make a difference? Is MSU a better place for my having been here?

In Mark Dobson’s case, the answer is a resounding “Yes.”

For the last two-and-a-half years Dobson served as president of the Residence Halls Association, or RHA, the on-campus student government that serves more than 14,000 students across the University Housing system.

Dobson’s presidency has seen smoking snuffed out in the residence halls, a tremendous benefit to student health and safety.

He worked to prevent sports-related riots and established a charity ball to give back to the community.

He fought for students’ rights while expanding the diversity of the organization.

All the while, RHA expanded its core programs, including RHA TV, free movie rentals and Campus Center Cinemas.

It was therefore no surprise to us that Michigan Organization of Residence Hall Associations, a group of on-campus student governments from across the state, named Dobson its 2009 President of the Year.

That’s why we wanted to take a moment, having once had the enormous responsibility of representing and serving MSU’s on-campus residents ourselves, to thank and recognize Dobson for the amazing job he has done.

Derek Wallbank, Ernest Drake, Kevin Newman and Lindsay Palinsky

former RHA presidents