Dorm executives to take office after close race

When Residence Halls Association executives take office next month, they will do so after competing in a race closer than many past campaigns. But despite the close margins, current executives already have a slate of changes in front of them involving changes to the constitution. \nFor the Griffin ticket, Matt Jarson, president-elect, won with 54 percent of the vote, Sarah Clark, vice president of student affairs-elect, won 55 percent, and Greg Fitch, vice president of internal affairs-elect, won 52 percent.\nCurrent RHA President Owen Sutkowski attributes the close vote to the many similarities that existed between the dueling campaigns.\n"Both tickets used the themes of communications, student advocacy and programming throughout their respective campaigns," Sutkowski said in an e-mail. "These parallel themes, even if the modes of achievement are different, stick with students and thus forced residents to closely examine the ways in which each ticket will reach these goals."\nBoth parties also had very articulate candidates with lots of leadership background, which also played a role in the closeness of this year's \nelection results, Sutkowski said.\nAside from the new RHA executives, students will also see changes to the RHA constitution.\nThis is the first time the RHA constitution has been changed in more than 40 years, said Vice President of Programming Adam Wiszowaty. After a review, the changes that were approved on March 8 were made, Wiszowaty said.\nThe major changes include the name switch of the governing body from president's council to a general assembly. The new constitution allows for greater representation from the residence halls within the general assembly. \n"The general assembly will consist of the president from each center, as well as two additional delegates, for a total of 33 representatives," Jarson said.\nThe current president's council consists of 11 people. Jarson said he anticipates changes with the jump to 33 representatives.\n"I think there's going to be much greater student involvement," Jarson said. "The more people you bring to the table, the more points of view you get."\nThe changes to the constitution also allow for the creation of a funding board, which will help control finances within RHA. The primary goal of the funding board is to try to keep the money coming in from the student activities fee within the residence halls. The funding board will allot a set number of dollars to each residence center to program with, said Sam Scarpino, meal plan committee chairman. \n"Our goals for the reconstruction are to increase student involvement, increase student voice and to better RHA," Scarpino said.