Residence Halls Association chooses new vice president

It didn’t take long for public administration and public policy sophomore Chelsea Satkowiak to move up the ranks in the Residence Halls Association, or RHA.

After one year as a Shaw Hall representative, she was elected Wednesday to be the next RHA vice president.

“Because I have a passion for RHA, I will be able to encourage others to get more involved and want to be more involved with the organization,” Satkowiak said.

Satkowiak will work with President-elect Emma Perot, a hospitality business sophomore, to lead RHA next year.

“I’m very excited about working with Chelsea next year,” Perot said. “She’s a person who has the passion and the dedication for the organization that’s going to be needed to make this position great for next year.”

Satkowiak transferred last year from Oakland University where she was a member of the Residence Halls Council, which is similar to RHA.

“I think she has a little bit of a nontraditional experience, being a transfer student,” RHA President Mark Dobson said. “I think that adds a little more so that underrepresented population can have a bigger voice in terms of the leadership on campus, so I think that’s good.”

Satkowiak said she didn’t run for president because it is her first year at MSU.

“I’ve only been here for a year, and I didn’t think I was ready to take on a larger role as president,” she said.

But if Perot had to step down, Satkowiak would take over as president.

Dobson moved from vice president to president in November 2006 after his predecessor stepped down because of personal reasons.

“If I have to become president, I feel I could step up,” Satkowiak said. “I work best under pressure. I’ve been able to handle a lot and be successful.”

Satkowiak also is an usher at Breslin Center, but said the two jobs wouldn’t conflict and RHA would come first.

According to the RHA constitution, the vice president ensures hall governments and caucuses operate within RHA’s rules and maintains relationships between them. The vice president also represents RHA in ASMSU’s Student Assembly.

“I’ll just be sure to keep both groups updated with what’s going on (with each other),” Satkowiak said.

Perot said Satkowiak’s personality will help RHA next year.

“Chelsea has a very outgoing personality, she’s someone who is very approachable and is someone who everyone just feels comfortable with,” Perot said.

“I hope to work very closely with Chelsea all next year to make sure that we are talking about all the constituents’ issues and … we make sure that we’re representing all the residents as a whole.”