Voted in by their own members, a select group of students are working at improving students’ lives within university housing, which includes planning opportunities for students.

After coordinating with hypnotist Frederick Winters to preform during prowl week, the Residence Hall Association members are now turning their attention on ROC Fest for September 16-20.

ROC Fest is a weeklong series of events to promote residence hall participation from students in university housing.

RHA president Miguel Williams said they have been planning ROC Fest all summer.

Patrick Morrow, the RHA vice president, manages ROC Fest with help from Dawn Howe, the RHA secretary.

As of now, RHA members have already designed the T-shirts for ROC Fest.

They are now working on all of the details of each event, such as the new rules for each game.

Williams said the executive board and him are working on a new event this year but have not worked out the particulars.

Williams and his cabinet are also getting ready for their first meeting, which will be at 5 p.m. Sept. 5 at Stevenson Hall.

While the meeting will run at Stevenson, Jody Stone, the associate director of housing and dining, said it would be hosted by Lincoln Hall

Currently, RHA does not have their representatives from each hall set but Williams said they would have the list before the meeting.

Only three representatives can be elected from each hall.

“It is recommended to have three,” Williams said. “That is why each hall has three because it makes it a lot easier.

Each meeting is run by the RHA executive board, which consists of Williams, Morrow, Howe and the RHA National Communications Coordinator Christina Lauff.

Williams’ role is to overview the executive board, lead each meeting and be the voice of RHA as well as the students on campus.

Morrow sees over the programming, community service and social justice and diversity, and must serve as president if the president is absent.

Apart from being a liaison to Morrow for ROC Fest, Howe also keeps track of the minutes during meetings and keeps the executive board organized.

Lauff plans out trips for RHA like the National Association of College and University Residence Halls and the Great Lake Association of College and University Residence Halls conferences.

Stone said RHA reports to the Great Lake Association, which reports to the National Association.

“NACURH is the largest student run organization in the world,” Stone said. “It is like the United Nations of residence hall government.”

RHA has taken on many projects in past years.

In addition to adding bike racks in front of halls and other things, last year, RHA pushed for the Lawson Hall being co-ed.

RHA started at Eastern in 1971 and it was only men who were allowed to participate.

In 1972, the first co-ed RHA was formed at Eastern.

Williams said RHA’s goal is to improve the lives of on-campus students, which he said the executive board members hopes to accomplish.

Jarad Jarmon can be reached at 581-2812 or jsjarmon@eiu.edu.