Beuchler elected RHA president

RHA Vice President Alex Beuchler was unanimously elected RHA president last night, after her challenger dropped out of the race last week.

Beuchler said she would energize students to advocate for more on-campus housing, work to eliminate required focus dates and promote communication between the Residence Halls Association and students - issues that have long been staples of presidential candidates' platforms. The 2006 race was the only contested election in the past six years.

With more upperclassmen forced to live off the campus and only one new dorm planned for the next three years, Beuchler said she would keep the university administration and the Board of Regents on their toes if they don't move quickly enough to propose new housing.

"If there's dead time when the administration isn't looking at new housing, we'll remind them," she said. A campaign to encourage students to lobby the regents, the 17 member board that sets university system policy, to fund new dorms is also a continuing goal.

"We want to get [the regents] to know who we are," Beuchler said. "We will get students' voice out there; make people aware of the opportunities they have to effect change."

Beuchler's original challenger, Resident Life committee chair Matt Verghese, said when he was nominated he was uncertain if he would be able to live on the campus next year due to a cut in his financial aid package, and ultimately decided to drop out of the race and endorse his opponent. Residence Halls Association presidents are required to live on-campus or in South Campus Commons or University Courtyards.

Verghese, who was the campaign manager for SGA president-elect Jonathan Sachs, said he has not decided whether or not he would pursue a cabinet-level position in the SGA.

Beuchler also said that she hoped to end mandatory focus dates by as early as next spring. However, she said she would keep them as informal benchmarks so that students can budget their money properly. According to Beuchler, focus dates have been derided by students for years and she said that "we shouldn't be telling them exactly how much they should spend."

A daily spending cap of $40 would keep the dining halls from running out of food at the end of the semester, she added.

Dining Services Director Colleen Wright-Riva recently said she wanted to eliminate focus dates. In light of this, Beuchler said she would meet with other Dining Services officials who have previously stood by the focus date system to encourage them to change their minds.

Josef Mensah, who was elected vice-president, also unopposed, said he was excited to work with Beuchler next year and was optimistic about making the RHA a more efficient organization.

"We're on the brink of a new level of student leadership," he said. "I wouldn't want to see anyone else as president."

The face of the RHA will quickly change in coming years as more upper-classmen are forced to live off-campus, Beuchler said. Because the legislators are required to live on campus, future bodies would likely be composed of younger, less experienced students.

However, Beuchler said that because some upperclassmen would remain in at-large positions or represent Commons, the organization would not be severely impacted.

"It's going to be different," she said. "I think we'll have enough experienced returners to teach and encourage the new people. We'll be fine."

The RHA also voted to support a mandatory health insurance policy passed last month by the University Senate. They voted to create a committee to study environmental sustainability and to advocate for "green" dorms as well.

cwellsdbk@gmail.com