The Residence Halls Association elected Travis Lunsford as its next Director of Racial, Ethnic, and Progressive Affairs, or DREPA, for the 44th session, at Wednesday’s general assembly.
Lunsford previously held leadership positions in The Alliance of Queer and Ally Students, The Council of Progressive Students, or COPS, organization, and Spectrum, East Neighborhood Queer and Ally Caucus.
Lunsford ran unopposed for the position and he officially will take over as director on April 10.
This also was the first ever DREPA election, RHA President Kelcey Gapske said.
For the DREPA elections, there was a ten-minute speech presented by the candidate, with general assembly board members asking questions for 15 minutes.
In both his letter of intent and speech, Lunsford emphasised improving the campus climate for minorities and their allies. He personally wants to get engaged with the many black caucuses on campus by attending meetings.
“One of the things that I would like to do is work with directors and executive board members who do fall in the magnifying glass,” Lunsford said. “I just want to get back to where they were (before) and make them even stronger.”
Lunsford considered himself aggressive towards approaching individuals who are afraid of diversity, and he wants to engage more discussions about diversity on campus through mandatory floor meetings.
“One of the things I would like to do is make it that they can’t run from those issues that involve diversity,” Lunsford said.
RHA will meet again next Wednesday for their regular scheduled general assembly meeting.
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