Amy Johstono
Staff Writer
acjohstono@valdosta.edu

The Residence Hall Association members elected a new president on March 31 to serve for the 2009-2010 year.
Justin Whitfield, the president-elect of RHA, plans on making major changes in the organization, as well as raise membership and awareness.
“My goal is to make RHA as well known as CAB and do more things for the campus than SGA,” Whitfield said. “We’re going to be a super organization!”
Chad Freeman, current president of RHA, hopes that the members of RHA will be able to build on all that they’ve accomplished this year and is excited to see what Whitfield will do with the organization.
“I think Justin will excel as president,” Liz Powell, RHA Junior Advisor, said. “RHA has accomplished and grown a lot this year, and I know under Justin’s leadership it will continue in the same direction.”
According to Whitfield, his job as president requires him to plan events, regulate member activity and raise school spirit.
Freeman thinks Whitfield will bring something new to RHA.
“He has new ideas and a new leadership style,” Freeman said.
Whitfield is working on arranging more events for the next year than what RHA held this year. He plans on having several fundraisers for the organization, events with other organizations, such as Sodexo, and themed social events such as a tie-dyed theme event.
One event Whitfield is working on is a campus-wide game of manhunt or hide and seek. He hopes that around 50 people will attend and plans to offer prizes.

This event, as well as the others Whitfield is planning, will help residents meet new people and make friends.
The Residence Hall Association focuses on hosting both social and educational programs that further the college experience for every student.
RHA strives to collaborate with other organizations to create better social events for residents as well as working on volunteer projects to help better the Valdosta community.
Some of these projects include going green.
RHA is working with the housing office to make the residence halls more energy efficient. The organization is also working with SAVE to promote energy conservation through the VSU Green Housing Effect.
The Green Housing Effect is an energy conservation competition between the residence halls. The residence hall that saves the most will win a trophy, as well as a surprise prize.
SAVE and RHA will monitor which hall uses less electricity and water each week. The competition ends on April 20.
The RHA also serves as the voice of the residents. They work to negotiate issues between residents and the halls they live in. They also help residents solve disputes among each other. RHA helped residents solve issues involving visitation policies at the beginning of this school year, as well as the use of Hopper’s side doors as emergency exits.
Whitfield is unsure of the problems he’ll have to help residents with next year.
“It just helps to expect the unexpected,” he said.
If a resident has a problem they think needs to be addressed they can message Whitfield at jrwhitfield@valdosta.edu or contact their individual hall council.