Eigenmann Hall merges into RHA

Eigenmann Hall residents took to the polls Tuesday and passed a referendum 183-42 that merged the Eigenmann Resident Association with the Residence Halls Association. Because voter turnout was more than 20 percent, the results are officially binding.\nOne ballot was unmarked.\n"This is a new government to match the new personality of Eigenmann," said Brian Logue, senior vice president of ERA. "It will still maintain its diversity, and that's only going to add to RHA. Maybe some voices they haven't heard before."\nThis was the third appeal in the last three years from both organizations to the residents of Eigenmann. The previous two tries, turnout never reached the 20 percent necessary to amend the Eigenmann Constitution, and therefore the results of the vote could never be approved.\n"I'm elated we finally put the issue to bed," Logue said. "Eigenmann moved in a positive direction today."\nHistorically, Eigenmann has governed itself internally through ERA rather than become a member of the collective RHA. It had maintained its independence in the past because the majority of its residents were graduate and over-21 and thus did not benefit from the RHA programs. \nBut in the last four years, the number of freshman living in Eigenmann has increased dramatically, making it no different than any other residence hall on campus. \nLogue, a junior, said it was time to forget Eigenmann's autonomy and merge with RHA. \n"Before, it was a grad student and older student dorm, different from other resident halls," said Logue. "Essentially, ERA now mirrors RHA. It doesn't make much sense to continue on as we are right now."\nDietrich Willke, president of Eigenmann, praised the decision of the residents. \n"It will make representation and unity of residents much more effective," he said. \nRHA will begin taking over operation of ERA immediately. In the process, ERA will lose its guaranteed seats on the Campus and Housing Advisory Committee and the Meal Plan Committee, but as RHA president senior Ken Minami explained will not lose any of its independence. \n"It's only going to give Eigenmann residents more voice, channeled through RHA, which is a very powerful organization," said Minami. \nAnother result of the transition is that $1.65 for each student will be transferred from ERA's budget to RHA in order to pay for specific programs for the residents.