During its opening meeting yesterday, the RHA welcomed the first Courtyards representative after enveloping the community under their organization’s umbrella over the summer.
Courtyards residents, who are primarily upperclassmen, have been represented by their own council in the past. The former council’s chair argued that students living in Courtyards would be better served by a body independent of the primarily underclassmen, dorm-centric Residence Hall Association.
However, RHA President Josef Mensah, a senior theatre major, argued that RHA’s ties to the Department of Resident Life ultimately enables them to be a more effective lobbying body. Directors from Resident Life, Dining Services, the Department of Transportation Services and Facilities all advise RHA committees.
This fall, two more senators will be appointed to join the elected Courtyards representative. But some Courtyards residents are unsure if the change will impact them.
Junior Rachel Mihaly, an architecture major and Courtyards resident, said she only has a fuzzy idea of what exactly the RHA does.
“Yeah, I’ve heard of them. I don’t really know what the benefits are of being represented, though,” she said. “I guess it’s a good thing to be included if they’ll make some positive changes, but right now I’m not sure if it will matter that much.”
Last year, the RHA successfully lobbied the administration last year to eliminate focus dates in the dining hall and to move the burdensome room-selection process online, eliminating the frustrating long lines and wait time that characterized the old procedure. The RHA also introduced a mixed-gender housing program for 64 apartments in Courtyards and Commons, meaning male and female students could choose to room in the same apartment on a trial basis.
This fall, as the mixed-gender pilot program enters its second year, the RHA hopes to make the program an official, permanent option for incoming Courtyards and Commons residents. Their senate unanimously passed a resolution to that end yesterday.
Having more choices seems popular with students, even if they wouldn’t personally live in a coed apartment or house.
“I don’t think it will be a problem — it’s not like it would break out into a crazy orgy,” junior architecture major Andy Bruno said. “I’m not sure I would personally room with girls because I have a friend who had a bad experience with that. But if you’re inclined to do it, why not?”
Another of the RHA’s goals this semester includes assessing whether late-night bus routes meet students’ needs. And a new sustainabilty council will help increase recycling and other sustainabilty efforts in the dorms and dining halls.
Further initiatives are not set in stone. Mensah explained that what the RHA does will ultimately be shaped by residents’ wants and concerns, though he hopes the debate over some initiatives left open-ended last year will continue.
“There’s no major issue jumping out at us from the get-go like in the past, for example, housing shortages or the Amethyst Initiative,” he said. “This gives us a great opportunity to really use our time in gauging the interests and ideas of resident students.
Mensah added he hoped the RHA would be able to keep up discussions about the Amethyst Initiative and increased security cameras.
In an earlier conversation, however, Mensah said that this might not be the year to ask for expensive security cameras in dorm common areas in light of budget cuts to the university.
University President Dan Mote made an appearance at the meeting, offering his own suggestions about topics that RHA might address. He stressed that members should continue to strive to connect people on campus, but not just for those living in dorms.
“The residence halls build community pretty quickly … but transfer students and commuters don’t have this automatic connection,” he continued. “Maybe you’ll have some idea about how we can do a better job with this. Those students are disadvantaged right now.”
apino@umdbk.com
