2008 Woodie Awards
University residence hall association seeks to initiate co-ed dorming for Fall 2008
Carla Aponte
Issue date: 4/30/08 Section: Features
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"We give our students a sense of community and family," Lindsay Peck, NACURH regional director, said. NACURH is considered to be the largest student-run organization in the world. National and regional positions are held by students. Over 400 schools from the United States, Canada, Mexico and Australia are active members of NACURH.
The University's RHA will be attending the NACURH National Convention May 16-19 in Oklahoma, which be hosted by Oklahoma State University.
Universities from all across the country have been invited for a weekend of conferences and opportunities to meet with other schools' RHAs.
RHA strives to listen to the residents to make the changes they want. They host town hall meetings in order for the residents to come and speak out. These meetings have started off small, but the interest in RHA throughout the University's community is starting to draw more attention - and the organization is always looking for more people to join in order to make a bigger difference.
"Most people know that we exist and we are hoping to attract more members because we work very hard to make changes around Pace," Trapanotto said.
Recently, they have created a Gender Neutral Housing committee, which is working to get mixed gender housing approved by the University.
The committee is having the RHA from NYU's Water Street dorm be present at the University to talk at a meeting about how they attained gender neutral housing, something they've had for the past four years.
The Stonewall Coalition is supporting this committee by sending out emails to their members.
RHA's first event was their Casino Royale Night. On April 23, the second and third floor of 106 Fulton St. opened up to offer mocktails, free food, dancing and games.
"Casino Royale Night was an amazing success. WPUB provided us with an awesome DJ, and the RAs served mocktails like Pina Coladas and Strawberry Daquiris throughout the evening," Waldo said.
Attendees bought tickets and played with them as though they were money. The more tickets students won through out the night the better chance they had to win prizes, which included Metrocards, finals survival packages, an iPod and a chance to win first pick on room selection day next year. RHA is hoping to make this event a yearly happening.
RHA is in the works of creating 'I Love New York' day where they would provide information on fun, cheap or free things to do in the city. They are hoping to do this for Welcome Week of Fall 2008.
All students interested in having their opinion heard should attend RHA meetings every Friday at 12:30 p.m. at 106 Fulton St. in the third floor conference room.
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