Four new positions in the Residence Halls Association’s executive board will change the way its most expensive programs are run.
The association’s general assembly approved a bill last week to create an events board responsible for RHA Movies and RHA Special Events. The programs provide recreational activities, movie rentals, Campus Center movies and University Housing Channel 12 movies.
The new positions will be supervised by the external vice president.
An RHA Events Board director will have three assistant directors monitoring each of the services. The board’s director will earn about $4,204 per year and assistants will earn about $3,153.
Brody Residents In Great Harmony Together Rep. Pat Walker said the bill is aimed at creating accountability and responsible spending in the wake of RHA movie program’s budgetary problems.
RHA Movies overspent its $82,500 budget for spring semester by about $10,595. Rental offices shut down and Special Events took over Campus Center movies. The movie program directors were suspended without pay and one quit.
“Mainly, it was an issue of accountability,” Walker said. “As most people know, we were about $30,000 over budget in the movie program (in 2001) and there have been problems all semester with the rental offices.
“By adding another manager for (rental offices) and giving each its own budget, we can track what is being spent a little better.”
Walker, who also is chairperson of the policy committee, said he hopes the association won’t see similar budget problems next year.
“We are hoping to not have the same bad press we seem to have every year of going over budget,” he said. “And largely, it’s these programs that get us into trouble.”
One stipulation in the bill is a requirement for the events director to be in constant communication with the RHA comptroller on all financial and expenditure matters.
Current Assistant Special Events Coordinator Kendall Stubbs said he will apply for the same position next year and agrees the new bill will keep spending in line. Stubbs’ current position had been eliminated by the association for next year.
“I figure it will give a level of accountability for the actions of the personnel,” he said.
RHA External Vice President Amy Sa’id said the change will give Special Events a chance to get its name out there.
“With the new events board and the new formation of partnerships, it will give the Special Events people next year more opportunity to put on programs with RHA’s name,” she said.
She said the executive vice president will have an easier time with the new events board because information gathering will be streamlined.
“With the movies position split up, it is a lot easier to ask questions and find answers,” she said. “In the past, Campus Center and the movies office have all gone through one person. Now, if you have a question about the movies office you go to the movies office person and they should know the answer.”
