The Residence Hall Association held its first meeting of the semester on Monday, Jan. 28 in the Argentum Room of the Busch Memorial Center. The meeting began with RHA President Mary Elizabeth Curtice’s State of the Association Address in which she recapped RHA’s successes of the fall semester and outlined goals for the spring semester.

Curtice congratulated the members of the association for their hard work toward the major accomplishments so far this year, including the successful Homecoming parade and the organization’s laser-tag fund-raiser for the 2001 canned-food drive.

During the address, Curtice encouraged the organization to build upon the success of past events.

“We must continue to strive for the excellence that has brought us to this point,” Curtice said. “Be prepared for an association that expects more than the status quo.”

After the address, Sydney O’Quin, RHA vice president, previewed the major programs of the upcoming semester. In February, RHA plans to hold a date auction in order to raise money for the American Heart Association.

O’Quin explained that while the event is still in the planning stages, all student organizations may be invited to nominate one or two members to be auctioned for a double date. RHA hopes to have the costs of the dates covered by donations from local restaurants and attractions. This will be the first time RHA has sponsored such an event.

“We thought that a fund-raiser for the American Heart Association around Valentine’s Day time was really fitting,” O’Quin said.

“This is another way RHA can promote more activity with students,” said Kristin Hoff, head of the programming committee.

In March, RHA plans to bring in the Diversity Players, and improvisational comedy troupe with an anti-discrimination message. In April, the organization is planning an outdoor concert on Quad I and is looking into various performers, including blues singer John Mayer. Because it has been such a popular event past, the midnight breakfast during finals week will remain as the major May event.

Curtice explained that the expanded programming planned for the spring semester is just one part of the RHA’s overarching goal of service to the students and that the organization hopes to continue to “create a niche on campus.”

RHA meets on Mondays at 6 p.m. in the Argentum Room of the BMC. All campus residents are invited to attend.