The Residence Halls Association presidential race heated up Wednesday, with nominations of three general assembly members.
Next week, formal elections will decide the next president after nominees speak to the assembly and answer questions. The president serves a one-year term.
Reps. Bryson Jacques from Holmes Hall and Tim Liss from Campbell Hall join RHA secretary Danielle DeCormier to fill the president’s seat. Marsa Mitchell from Akers Hall withdrew from the race because she is unable to fulfill a requirement to oversee association matters during the summer.
Current RHA President Nick Kovacic said his position requires him to attend several meetings and know the duties of every member, in case a position needs to be filled.
“You are the students’ link to the administration, making sure people know where RHA stands,” he said.
He said it’s important for the president to stay objective and learn that the person in the position cannot have an opinion.
“As president, your job is not to have an opinion,” he said. “Your agenda is what the general assembly wants.”
He said Multicultural Center expansion is going to be a big issue during the next president’s term. Internal issues, such as the deletion and creation of positions for next year, also will be big, he said.
Danielle DeCormier, a two-year veteran of RHA, said she would like to make students more aware of what the association offers hall residents.
“The fact is that people still don’t know who we are,” she said. “Our programs aren’t being effective and they are not enough to help students.”
Other nominees were not available for comment.
Adam Raezler, Case Hall representative, would have been the fifth nominee until he withdrew at Wednesday’s meeting.
He said he withdrew because his voice for his constituents would be weakened.
“The students that I represent were honored by the nomination for a Case Hall representative to be nominated for the president, but we didn’t feel the need to remove me from the assembly,” he said. “We think that Case Hall’s voice is being heard.
“As president you no longer have an opinion. In elections, everyone wants to know what you think and where you stand. Your opinion means nothing and you can’t use your opinion.”
He said the president’s job consists of advocating the association’s position.
“Its looks nice to have the fancy business card and the nice office and the desk with the nameplate that says president, external vice president, internal vice president, but those three positions technically don’t really have any power,” he said.
