RHA holds out on approving grants

The Residence Hall Association Board of Governors heard two funding proposals at its weekly meeting Tuesday.

The organization, made up of the leaders of the residence communities and an executive board, allocates money from dorm fees for campus activities and represents on-campus students.

World Micro-Market and Carolina Monkey Kung Fu asked for $200 and $2,500, respectively.

The governors said they were interested in how each program would directly benefit their residents.

Carolina Monkey Kung Fu came to the board asking for funding for a Hungarian Kung Fu master to travel to UNC and teach seminars to students.

A couple of different opinions about the logistics and implementation of the project were voiced by different governors, but in the end they decided more information about the project was needed before a motion to fund could be passed.

Several governors were particularly interested in providing each community, or at the very least each campus region, with a separate kung fu event if the RHA board were to provide funding.

“We are really keeping the goal of benefiting residents at the forefront,” Miller said.

A representative from World Micro-Market, a new project affiliated with the Campus Y, asked for RHA funding to help cover part of the startup costs for their international marketplace. The market sells goods made by impoverished individuals overseas.

World Micro-Market added that in return for funding, they could set up at various community events along with their current efforts in the Pit each Wednesday.

The governors passed the motion to fund the project, citing the opportunity for residents to have access to interesting foreign items and contribute to a good cause.

The discussion sessions following the proposals were thorough, RHA President Michael Miller said, adding that all the community governors have been interacting well with each other.

“The governors are independent thinkers, but they’re able to come to a group decision,” he said.

And representatives at the meeting said the process went well, despite occasional disagreements.

“We are able to smoothly get things done here,” Olde Campus Upper Quad Community Governor James Stewart said.

 Craige Community Governor Lucy D’Agostino said even though she is new to the board, the other governors have been friendly and helpful in bringing her up to speed on policies and procedures.

Besides discussing funding proposals, each community gave a brief overview of the activities of the past week.

Local events in the different communities included capture the flag, basketball, a Halo tournament and a blood drive.

Several governors also mentioned plans for their communities to hold tailgates Saturday for the Notre Dame football game.

Overall, Miller said he thought the meeting was productive. The board will convene again in two weeks.

 

Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.