Students looking to voice their opinions in the residence halls may be able to get a start with the hall council.

Each floor in every residence hall may elect two officials — a president and a vice president — to attend hall council meetings at 9 p.m. every Tuesday night.

The goal of the hall councils is to gain information about what is discussed in the Residence Hall Association meetings, and report it back to each floor.

If students are looking to become more involved with RHA than just hall council, they may run for a position on the executive board.

“I was the public relations officer for Lincoln Hall last year, and I got elected to do the same thing for RHA,” said Denise Walker, public relations officer for RHA.

Executive board members discuss issues such as hall improvement.

“The hall improvement committee discusses how the monies are spent in each hall,” said Keith Kruchten, RHA president. “TVs have recently been put into the food court areas in Stevenson Towers, because enough people expressed an interest in something like that.”

Members of RHA also deal with programming for major activities in the residence halls throughout the year.

“RHA week and Lil Sibs Weekend are a couple of the programs we organize,” Walker said. “We usually have a carnival and bowling, and we get a great turnout.”

RHA also engages in philanthropy activities.

“We told students in the hall council meetings that we are looking to raise money for children’s books to be sent to Kishwaukee Hospital,” he said.

By attending hall council meetings, floors can earn points toward the Floor of the Year competition.

“Usually, the floor that wins will get a pizza party and sometimes, everybody on the floor will receive something small, like a dry erase board.”

Hall council has seen an increase in attendance compared to past years.

“We have had a lot more attendance this year than we’ve had in years past,” he said. “In most meeting times, there is only room for people to stand.”