Winter is on its way, but the Resident Housing Association is already turning its attention toward spring.

The RHA is expected to divide into its subcommittees to begin preparations for its spring 2012 events at

5 p.m. in Taylor Hall.

RHA National/Illinois Communication Coordinator Dondre Keeler said the events in the spring will include past favorites such as Kids and Friends Weekend and Social Justice and Diversity Week along with a new event resembling the annual fall Residents On Campus Festival.

Keeler said each committee is responsible for an individual event and will plan all the accompanying aspects.

“They have to come up with themes for the events and pick dates,” he said. “They also have to plan a budget and see what they can spend on different things.”

Keeler said he did not know what the final cost associated with the event will be, but that money from one event could be transferred to others.

“Last year for Kids and Friends Weekend we were under budget,” Keeler said. “We will have some money to put in other accounts.”

RHA President Jacob Nees said his hope was that by planning events in advance, students will be able to inform their family and friends about events such as Kids and Friends Weekend during winter break, resulting in a strong turn out for the events in the spring.

Nees said the RHA executive board will also announce which RHA members will sit on the Bond Revenue Committee.

The Bond Revenue Committee is a group made up of three members from the Student Senate alongside three member from the RHA led by Mark Hudson, director of university housing and dining, who collectively decide the cost of living on campus for the next academic year.

“They’re going to look at all the expenses we have through Housing and Dining and decide how much the students are going to have to pay,” Nees said.

Nees said this year the RHA decided to try to bring a gender balance to the committee, which contains three men and three women.

“These people represent the different halls,” Nees said. “If they want to come in to the halls to explain things, they can be more accessible.”

Andrew Crivilare can

or ajcrivilare@eiu.edu.