The Residence Hall Association wants students to attend Alternative Spring Break.

The Newman Center sponsors the volunteer program along with Habitat for Humanity. The program takes place March 8-15.

“The program is organized through the student volunteer center out of Newman Catholic center,” said Jarrod Scherle, RHA president and sophomore engineering major, “Basically, you go all across the U.S., doing different kinds of volunteer work. Students can do work for Habitat for Humanity or other available organizations.”

Scherle plans to participate in the program.

“This year, I will be mentoring foster children in Alabama at the Big Oak Boys Ranch as one of my volunteer assignments,” Scherle said.

Other volunteer options are offered to students who sign up.

“There are a wide range of activities, from helping children to helping the homeless,” said Kelly Canning, a sophomore elementary education major. “I will be going to Philadelphia to help out homeless for my activity.”

The Newman Center will offer 11 different trips this year.

The program begins on the first Friday or Saturday of spring break and ends on the following Saturday. The cost of the trip is $150. Students receive a $25 discount if their registration paperwork is turned in before Feb. 1. The trip includes transportation, housing and dining and any other accommodations.

In other business, RHA discussed interviews for new resident assistants.

Interviews will take place today from 1-9 p.m. The process started in September, and interviewees tomorrow will face questions that ask everything from questions about how they will manage their time to why they would like to be an RA.

“We ask them questions about what they do to show support for Hall Council, how they are with working with diverse populations, how they manage their time and what interests them about being an RA,” said Tonia Pittman, resident director for Eastern.

After Thanksgiving, people interested in being an RA had two weeks of workshops. They also shadowed RAs across campus. Candidates also attended a social, where prospective RAs were able to meet residence hall directors, Pittman said. Today, the final choices will be picked. Pittman recommended potential RAs speak from the heart during their interviews.

Next week’s RHA meeting will be 5 p.m. in Thomas Hall.

Also discussed at the meeting:

Thomas is closing down pool and ping-pong tables after midnight from now on because of damage that has occurred during late night hours.

On Feb. 22 will be another Casino Night.

PROWL is accepting applications for summer jobs.

Heather Holm can be reached at 581-7945 or at haholm@eiu.edu.

Resident Hall Association President Jarrod Scherle and member Kelly Canning discuss a program called Alternative Spring Break where attendess help children in need at Tuesday’s night RHA meeting in Weller Hall. (Erin Matheny/The Daily Eastern News)

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