The Residence Halls Association will see five new faces at its meeting Wednesday.
The Alliance of Lesbian-Bi-Gay-Transgendered Straight Ally Students is now represented by a member from each of its five caucuses across campus.
The change marks the first time the caucuses will join the alliance representative in voting on RHA matters, therefore giving six votes to groups who represent the lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgendered community on MSU’s campus.
The constitutional amendment received approval from two-thirds of the hall governments necessary at the end of last semester.
Respecting Individuals on Neutral Ground President Doug Copeland said the caucus’ representation in RHA is well deserved - but long overdue. His group, also known as RING and based in Old North Complex, is one of the five caucuses.
“The (alliance) has been the only representative for students,” he said. “This is a more appropriate representation because it is for students in the residence halls.”
RHA External Vice President Amy Sa’id said everyone in RHA is excited about the addition.
“We need to gain wider representation,” the criminal justice sophomore said. “We thought it was only fair.”
Sa’id said she hopes to see more coordination between caucuses, discussion, feedback and wider viewpoints.
Alliance Policy Chairman Patrick Walker said the idea for alliance caucuses as representatives of the different residence hall complexes comes from the black caucus model.
Now with more votes on RHA, Walker said alliance members want to address issues such as hall safety and discrimination.
“A lot of the administration doesn’t think that is a problem,” Walker said. “Some administration members are oblivious to the needs of alliance members.”
The general business administration and pre-law junior said he hopes to create awareness and acceptance, especially among the administration.
Dave Warden, a co-representative for RHA from People Respecting the Individuality of Students at MSU, said having alliance caucus representation is really significant. His caucus, otherwise called PRISM, is based in South Complex.
“(The alliance) does a good job representing students but not those living in the residence halls,” he said. “We have a chance to work within the system to create change.”
Warden also said he would like set up an outreach program among the other caucuses to stress the importance of filling the seat at RHA meetings.
As of today, only PRISM and Brody Residents In Great Harmony Together or BRIGHT, a caucus representing Brody Complex, have chosen RHA representatives.
