The Residence Hall Association has had various committees working on constitutional changes for the last few weeks.

Bryn Rich, a sophomore political science major and current RHA vice president, presented the changes at RHA’s Thursday night meeting.

The current and future presidents and vice president, along with the Presidents Council, looked over the constitution and gave suggestions on what should be changed.

The changes centered on Article VI of the constitution, which deals with committees.

“When we looked at the constitution, we realized there were some committees that were in there that didn’t exist, and some that could be refined to a more specific goal,” Rich said. “We split Financial Advisory and Membership Development, so they can do their own thing. Also, with other groups, like (National Residence Hall Honorary), stepping up their involvement, we felt like we didn’t want to be intrusive and get into what they’re doing.”

Among the suggested changes were the inclusion of the Social Justice and Diversity Committee and the elimination of the Public Relations Committee, which RHA President Justin Schuch said has not been used in years.

Schuch brought the changes to the President’s Council and asked for its help with committee changes because many presidents have been involved with RHA in the past.

“It was agreed that we needed to have it more task focused, more marketable, so everybody in each committee has something we’re really doing,” Schuch said.

Besides agreeing to unanimously remove the Public Relations Committee from the constitution, the council also decided to give each committee a project each semester.

“We added in there that each committee has something in there each semester to do,” Schuch said. “So, first semester, each committee has a week-long task or something, and they really liked that a lot.”

In other RHA news, the members approved $25 for the Environmental Awareness Committee to use in its upcoming Recycling Extravaganza event. Schuch said the money had been approved already when the budget got approved at the beginning of the year.

“They had that in their disposal,” he said. “So, this is more of a formal, ‘This is what we’re using the money for.’ So, it’s just out of respect of what they’re using the money for.”

The recycling event, which takes place on April 22, will allow the community to recycle items not normally allowed at recycling centers. Items that can be recycled include CDs, toys, clothing, electronic devices, scrap metal and other items. Drop off centers for the event will be at the Library Quad, South Quad and the O’Brien Stadium parking lot for bigger items.

The next RHA meeting will be next Thursday at 5 p.m. in Pemberton Hall.

Adam Larck can be reached at 581-7942 or at allarck@eiu.edu.