2 tickets announce for RHA positions

With the Residence Hall Association elections just around the corner, candidates for the four executive positions have defined their platforms and goals and are ready to try to convince voters to vote for them.\nThe residence hall population will vote from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. March 6 in the residence halls for the executive positions of RHA president, vice president of internal affairs, vice president of student affairs and vice president of programming. \nThe Smile ticket and the Empower ticket offer candidates for these positions. The goals of these candidates will have an effect on how the voters will decide.\nIn the only contested election, sophomore Stephanie Shaffer of the Smile ticket competes against sophomore Erin Ransford of the Empower ticket for vice president of programming.\nThe RHA bylaws say the vice president of programming is in charge of developing campus-wide events for the residence hall population, helping to coordinate summer and fall orientation programming and overseeing the programming of campus-wide events.\nShaffer, whose campaign motto reads, "Experience and creativity -- what more do you want?," said she wants to use these powers to continue and improve already existing programs.\n"I want to make IU a lively and exciting place with many different programs," Shaffer said, "including the annual Dusk to Dawn Halloween Dance and the Spring Fling." \nThe education major said she hopes to include food for the Spring Fling because she knows from experience that food attracts people.\nRansford, a marketing major, said she wants to use the powers of the vice president of programming to make sure students' money goes to the right place.\n"I decided to run for RHA vice president of programming because I want to see the students' money being spent on and for the students," Ransford said.\nBoth candidates for this office cite positions that show experience with student associations. Shaffer held the position of director of programming at McNutt Quad in 1999-2000 was in charge of the vice-governors and is a member of the National Residence Hall Honorary. Ransford is the president of Foster Quad, co-chairs the Foster Quad Diversity Council and serves as the secretary for the National Residence Hall Honorary.\nBoth candidates said they anticipate working with students. \n"I am an exciting person with lots of creative ideas," Shaffer said. "I am willing to work with you, the residents, to provide the most interesting and enjoyable programs possible here at IU."\nRansford said she hopes to use her experience at Foster to work with students.\n"Serving as Foster president and co-chairing the Foster Diversity Council will help me to implement and execute fun and effective programs for the residents," Ransford said. \nRansford's Empower ticket also offers candidates for the three remaining executive positions. These three candidates will run in uncontested elections with a simple "yes" or "no" ballot. The candidates need to receive more than 50 percent "yes" votes to be elected.\nThe Empower ticket's three uncontested candidates are senior Ken Minami for RHA president, sophomore Mary Moore for vice president of internal affairs and senior Brian Holman for vice president of student affairs. \nThe members of the Empower ticket said they want to make sure the students' needs are the administrators' first priority, the students' money is used for programs to enhance the community and the budgeting process is properly managed.\nThe use of money resonates throughout Empower's agenda.\n"The more fees students have at Indiana University," Holman said, "the more hours they have to work to pay bills and the fewer hours they have for sleep, socializing and studying. We want to cut costs so students can afford to sleep, socialize and go to class." \nThe bottom line for Empower presidential candidate Ken Minami is to use the powers of the president to implement these ideas, he said. \nThe RHA bylaws said the president will act as a representative of the students to the University and community, and administer, supervise and allocate power throughout the organization.\nMinami, a business major, offered his vision of the president's powers.\n"My job will be to effectively voice the concerns of residents by inspiring involvement and providing an overall vision and guidance to the organization," he said.\nThe organization of RHA will be the main concern of Mary Moore if she is elected Tuesday. The RHA bylaws say the vice president of internal affairs is responsible for publishing new editions of the RHA Constitution, bylaws, codes and appendices, making sure the official records are kept and coordinating leadership training.\nMoore, a marketing major, explained her notion of her possible position.\n"My job will be to keep the student government running efficiently so the student voice is heard and responded to effectively," she said. \nHolman's job, if elected, will be to effectively evolve to what the position needs, he said.\n"The vice president of student affairs position changes from year to year as the organization evolves," Holman, a journalism major, said. "College is supposed to be four years of the best years of a person's life, and I would like to work to make that the case for students living in the residence halls. I expect that to involve working with the meal plan, parking and bus plan next year. But if students' needs lead me elsewhere, that is fine, too."\nBoth tickets agreed about the importance of voting. Minami said he feels voting acts as a voice of the students. \n"In order for the student government to represent the voice of the students," Minami said, "their voice needs to be expressed during the elections and throughout the year."\nShaffer agreed. "The students are the voice, and, if they want change, then their vote can change things with the stroke of a pen"