RHA yet to fill all leadership positions

Two leadership positions have been filled, but there are still vacancies.

By Luke Udstuen

Published Oct. 23, 2009

Multiple leadership positions in the Residence Halls Association remain unfilled, and have been since the beginning of the academic year.

Those positions include director of technology in training, director of communications in training and the naming sub-committee chairperson.

Two positions have been filled. RHA President Rachel Feuerborn said Paul Reeves would be the national communications coordinator in training.

Speaker of Congress Blake Lawrence said Roman Shmulevich has been appointed MUTV/Channel 23 liaison.

"Anyone who is interested can pursue leadership positions in some ways, they just have to approach the exec board with an idea and we can take it from there," RHA Vice President Lauren Thomas said.

Thomas stressed the accessibility of the organization and said for that reason, not much recruitment is necessary.

Some students have heard of RHA but don't understand who they are.

"I think the average student would know just about as much as I do about RHA," sophomore Justin Salisbury said. "I have definitely heard of it, and have heard their name attached to some issues, but I'm still not clear on what exactly RHA is."

Freshman Natasha Gunkel is also unfamiliar with RHA.

"I am unfamiliar with the purpose of the RHA, though I have heard the term used before," Gunkel said.

Thomas said RHA meetings are open to all students.

"Any resident is allowed and invited to our meetings to speak their mind and present ideas, although not all of them can vote," Thomas said. "Once the semester is underway, not much recruitment is needed because we have assigned representatives that come every week and they keep communication between RHA and their respective hall governments."

Thomas said there are no barriers for freshmen looking to hold a leadership position within RHA. The community service chairperson and sustainability chairperson are freshman, she said.

"I think that there are reps this year that are confident enough to pursue these leadership positions," Thomas said "Especially because we've already seen this happen with the two positions filled by freshmen already."

National Communications Coordinator Mike Madden was in charge of choosing Reeves for the next national communications coordinator in training.

"I'm trying to be a bigger, better NCC, and I want my NCC IT to be better than me next year," Madden said. "The way I'm doing it this year is that, for one thing, I'm trying to look into their personality. I want to see if they're enthusiastic about what they're doing, rather than just doing it for a resume."

Thomas said in the beginning all it takes is initiative.

"I believe the freshmen that have the qualifications to hold a leadership position are the ones who pursue them and show the most interest," Thomas said.