Search

ARCHIVES
CONTACT US
WORLD NEWS

RHA rebounds with hope for the future

Charges of corruption no longer affecting organization's

Three months after charges of corruption and misconduct against UA Residence Hall Association officers resulted in upheaval of the organization, recently installed leaders of the group said their focus is now to look ahead for the sake of residents.

RHA president Katie Rapp - who, as finance director, was one of three accused executive board members - said the controversy may remain in the minds of some RHA members, but does not affect how the organization works for students.

"I'm sure there are some doubts - we are very aware that we still have some proving to do," she said. "It's probably still prevalent in some people's minds, but we're here for the residents."

In January, a committee of RHA members compiled a list of grievances against Rapp, former president Rebecca Zilm and former vice president of services Audra Shattuck. The three were accused of misappropriation of funds and various forms of misconduct, including tampering with other members' e-mail accounts, underage drinking in the dorms and sex in the RHA office.

Though they maintained their innocence, Zilm and Shattuck resigned from their positions. Rapp was voted in as president in February when an entirely new executive board was elected.

Since then, executive board members agree that communication between general body members and officers has improved.

"I think the overall climate that should be in general is we're there for the residents, and we need to do our jobs - and that's all," Rapp said.

Finance director Jason Poreda said a "cloud has lifted" over RHA.

"As time has gone on things have gotten better and the general body has gotten more enthusiastic, and so are we," he said.

"The residents are finally speaking. A lot more people are talking, and that's what we want," said Danielle Silverman, vice president of programming.

Rapp said executive boards are usually elected before the end of the spring semester and given the summer to plan the next year's worth of programming. The current board, however, was elected in February and immediately began planning for the remainder of the semester as well as next year.

Within the past two weeks, RHA hosted a conference for six other RHA chapters in Arizona and New Mexico and ran a booth at Spring Fling. Before the end of May, members will have put on two karaoke programs, assembled fruit baskets and finals kits for residents, hosted a night at Tucson's Funtasticks amusement park, and sent several delegates to a national conference in Colorado.

In addition, RHA now holds "decision-making labs," which are more intimate, focused forums where members can share ideas and criticisms.

Rapp, who described herself as an "eternal optimist," said that despite the organization's recent history, she is looking forward to the remainder of her term.

"I'm looking forward to working with this group with full force," Rapp said. "I have every faith in the world that these officers are going to do the best job I've seen done in their positions."