The Residence Hall Association (RHA) at Idaho State University is a fairly new group that aims to get ISU students living on campus involved in social events and residence hall happenings that will allow them to grow as individuals.
The club also aims to give residents a voice on campus.
The club accomplishes these goals by putting on various programs or activities and by providing leadership opportunities to residents, as well as by acting as a governing force in the residence halls.
The RHA was a club years ago and initially held a strong presence, but eventually died down. The rebirth of the club, as President Josh Kon called it, happened recently after current adviser and Assistant Director of Housing Melissa Millican pushed to bring it back. The club was officially recognized by ASISU in spring 2011.
“Our main goal [for active members] is for them to build skills that they can take outside of college,” said Kon.
As part of that goal, five delegates from RHA will be attending the Intermountain Association of College and Universities Residence Halls leadership conference in New Mexico Nov. 15-18.
The conference will provide the delegates with seminars that will teach them leadership skills and techniques to be applied in the club as well as everyday life.
Aside from résumé and skill building, Kon encourages students to get involved in order to meet other residents on campus.
“[Getting involved in RHA is] a great way for people coming into campus for the first time to be active and to meet [a lot of] people,” explained Kon.
RHA also hopes to give residents a voice in housing by acting as more of a governing and advising force at ISU in the future.
“We’re working on setting up a floor-representative program so that [RHA] can address [housing] issues and give residents more of a voice,” explained Kon.
Currently, RHA is looking into working with housing to get a new printer for the computer lab in the South Complex housing area.
Events held by RHA are advertised throughout campus housing areas and are announced on the club’s Facebook page.
RHA has put on a “Minute-to-Win-It” event in the Rendezvous for the past two years and hopes to continue with that event this year.
Saturday, the club partnered with Ubisoft and held a “Just Dance 4” release party at 8 p.m in the Turner Hall Shack.
The release party was a social event for students to get together and see and play the new game. Ubisoft representative Griff Jenkins gave freebies to attendees at the release, including free T-shirts and other prizes.
The club’s next general meeting will be held Thursday, Oct. 18, at 7 p.m. in Dyer Hall.
More Club Information
President: Joshua Kon
Vice President: Tyler Cowles
Adviser: Melissa Millican, Bobby Arteaga
Members: Approximately 40 active members
Officers: Secretary, Kelsie Marsh; Treasurer, Haylee Humphries; Committee Heads Britney Jacobs, Brynn Penner and Blake Kleffner
Category: Social
Meetings: General Meetings are held every other Thursday at 7 p.m. in Dyer Hall.
Mission: To bring the residents of ISU together and to provide opportunities for the residence hall members to grow socially on campus.
Contact Info: Send an email to ude.usinull@ahr, or ‘friend’ the club’s Facebook page at facebook.com/isu.rha
