The Residence Hall Association elections have brought three freshmen to the RHA Executive Board for the 2005-06 academic year.
Jason Bruderlin will serve as vice president, Keith Bassett as finance chair and Melissa Hoffman as marketing and outreach chair. Elections were held from Oct. 18-19 in the lobbies of Barnhart, Carson and Hamilton complexes.
The RHA will manage a budget of $24,000 for the 2005-06 academic year, money that comes out of the room and board that residents pay. The budget is used to put on and sponsor events as well as pay for leadership development programs and capital improvements.
Bruderlin is excited about what he describes as limitless possibilities to enact positive change in the residence halls. He expects fellow residents to become more engaged with RHA as the year progresses.
“You’re not really here long enough to know anything about anything unless you’re actively seeking out ways to get involved,” he said. “People start to realize that RHA is spending their money and putting on programs and is a source for advocacy for their concerns.”
RHA President Todd Mann, who was elected to his position last year, praised Bruderlin, calling him “a very driven person.”
Mann shares Bruderlin’s enthusiasm for the upcoming year.
Although the RHA has only had two meetings, Mann has been pleased by the participation of the new officers.
“I was very impressed by the caliber of the comments and the focus that was made by those people,” he said.
Mann said the RHA often serves as a training ground for campus leaders, offering them some of their first leadership opportunities as college students.
“It’s a common trend within student leadership, if you start in RHA as a freshman, then as you move out of the halls you get involved in other organizations,” he said. “It is really building a foundation of leadership.”
In addition to the elected positions, a cabinet of seven students appointed by Mann serves on the RHA General Council, along with 18 student representatives elected by the residence complexes.
Freshman Kristin Vanderburgh, the RHA administrator, serves in the cabinet. Her primary responsibility is creating the RHA newsletter, sent to residents. She said that while the RHA includes an impressive group of leaders, the atmosphere remains relaxed.
“We’re still just a bunch of students trying to figure out what’s best,” she said.
Serving along with Vanderburgh on the RHA Cabinet will be Krystal Collins, staff relations coordinator; Trevor Whitbread, director of athletics; Pat Cunningham, Webmaster; Liz Pfriem, publicity coordinator; Justin Tandingan, diversity coordinator; and Whitney Pollack, recognition chair.

[email protected]