On-campus student leaders gathered at Brody Hall on Saturday for the second annual Residence Halls Association Leadership Conference.

Nick Kovacic, RHA president, said the conference was a training seminar to help student leaders from hall governments and caucuses become better leaders.

“We wanted to give them helpful information they could use when they go back, and I believe we succeeded at that,” he said.

The conference, which was also sponsored by Residence Life, consisted of leadership sessions presented by RHA executive board members about their positions.

Jeff Donofrio, RHA director of public relations, discussed how to get a group’s name out by targeting student issues during his session.

“These student leaders came out of my session with the skills and resources they needed, and hopefully, they’ll be back next year,” Donofrio said.

Rodney Patterson, director of the Office of Racial Ethnic Student Affairs who spoke at the conference, talked about leadership characteristics students need to excel in their various positions.

“He said student leaders have to be able to understand the school system and administration - basically cutting through the red tape,” Kovacic said.

David Demps, a psychology freshman and representative for North Campus Black Caucus, said he was surprised by the outcome of the conference.

“I’ve been to conferences like these before, and I usually end up socializing,” he said. “Today’s conference was different, because it got me thinking about all the problematic issues on campus that leaders like me have to face.”