Event planners are busy people. They work long hours with a cell phone glued to an ear, trying to organize conventions or lectures and keep everyone happy in the process.
This one is a junior, majoring in general business administration and pre-law.
Eric Bolf is the director of special events for the Residence Halls Association. He and his staff are responsible for putting together on-campus events, such as the Michael Moore lecture on Jan. 30.
"A lot of (my job) is just concerts and speakers, getting people out on a public scale," he said.
Bolf enjoys working with RHA because he doesn't have to worry about making a profit.
"It's good with RHA because the intentions are just to break even or be cheap. It makes it a whole lot more fun," he said. RHA's events are funded by the tax paid each semester by students who live in the residence halls.
Special events are a large portion of RHA's budget. Last semester, events took in about $35,000 in revenue, Bolf said.
This year, event organizers have been allotted $45,000 of RHA's more than $168,000 budget to host such events as the Moore lecture and concerts featuring bands such as Switchfoot and Thursday.
Brian Hamburg, a telecommunication, information studies and media sophomore, said he often attends the concerts put on by RHA.
"A lot of it is local bands or new music. It's a unique experience," he said.
Bolf described the sequence of events that brought Moore to campus.
"It started last semester; we put in an offer, knowing he was interested," he said. RHA put in a bid that originally was denied, but early this semester, Bolf got a call back from Moore's agent, confirming his visit to MSU.
"They said the costs would be substantially lower, about half of what they usually charge," Bolf said.
"We were thrilled."
RHA's advisor George Athanas stressed the importance of Bolf's position.
"I think it's very important in terms of tapping into the interests of RHA constituents and what they want.
"We've found over and over they're interested in events on campus," he said.
"I think Eric is incredibly effective. He's realized it's not about being a solo star, but providing the best events and activities on campus, and the best way to do that is to act with others."
Other RHA officers echoed Athanas' statements.
"When he came here, the first thing he said was, 'I want to work with you,'" RHA President Derek Wallbank said of Bolf.
"It seems like all of what he puts together is more than what's possible from a student organization."
Advertising senior Maura Less is a resident mentor in Shaw Hall. She said although she is often too busy to attend RHA events, many of her floormates do.
"Some of my girls go and they say they love it. (RHA) gives some awesome shows," she said.
