Students running for a position on the Residence Hall Association executive board will see a contested race this year.
Last spring, all candidates ran unopposed. This year, only the vice president of programming position is uncontested.
The typical number of positions that go unopposed varies based on the semester, according to RHA Vice President of Programming Amanda Silva.
“Many students tend not to run because they fear losing their own exec board spot in their hall council,” Silva said. “Also, many hall council and RHA general members already have a lot on their plate and see exec board as a big job.”
The position of president was unopposed for two years, according to current RHA president Anthony Dunham, who is now a candidate for Student Government president.
But this spring is different.
Three students are running for the vice president of Advocacy position this year, up from one candidate last spring, according to Dunham. The president and vice president of Finance and Marketing positions each have two candidates running.
Kogod freshman Peter Wynn Reifsnyder will be Tenley Campus’ first RHA presidential candidate in three years, Dunham said.
Reifsnyder said many students on Main Campus don’t know him or other Tenley students well. Tenley’s distance makes it difficult to bridge this gap, he said.
“I’m an underdog it seems, but it doesn’t mean I’m at a disadvantage,” Reifsnyder said. “I believe I can bring a fresh perspective to the RHA living on Tenley.”
Executive Director of Housing and Dining Programs Chris Moody said he encourages the new RHA executive board to take their responsibility seriously.
“These new members are elected to represent the students in the residence hall,” Moody said. “They must be accountable for following through on their goals and stepping outside their own personal opinions to represent overall student voices.”
Moody will work with the executive board during the summer to help them accomplish their goals for the upcoming academic year.
Dunham said he believes the new RHA executive board will meet the students’ expectations next year.
“Knowing these individuals who are running, any one of them is qualified to serve in these positions,” Dunham said. “I think [RHA] is going to be in a good place.”
Students can vote in the RHA elections on March 22 and March 23 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through their AU student portal.
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