Elections at some residence halls began Tuesday and will end Thursday at 11 p.m.
Each MU residence hall holds elections for its residents to elect representatives to the Residence Halls Association.
“I think it is important to have hall leadership because it gives students a voice in the community they live in,” Lathrop Hall leadership adviser Stephanie Tebe said. “They are able to make choices based of what the residents in their building have discussed.”
Students can choose to run for a position in hall itself, or one in RHA. Hall positions include president, vice president, treasurer and secretary, RHA President Jackson Farley said in an email. Students can also run to be an RHA representative in one of three committees: residential living, advocacy or operations.
Each residence hall president and vice president is responsible for coordinating and leading meetings, working with Residential Life staff and keeping residents informed about activities, according to residence hall leadership information.
Each secretary is responsible for recording and distributing meeting minutes, and the treasurer prepares and monitors the budget.
After signing up for a position in which they are interested, students start a weekend of campaigning.
“Campaigns will differ for every student, but the average campaign (consists of) advertising with fliers around the residence halls,” Farley said. “It also requires students to get out and meet people so that they can effectively persuade people to vote for them.”
Taking part in the residence hall elections not only provides students a chance to lead with their peers, but also allows them to create an overall great dorm life experience, Tebe said.
“I think it is important that students get involved in their residence halls so that they take an active role as a member in their community,” Tebe said. “They will also be able to meet other residents within the hall and help make their residence hall a great place to live.”