Events
The Residence Hall Association (RHA) hosts a wide variety of events throughout the year to enhance the student residential experience! Many events are traditional and occur every year, like the hypnotist show Mind Games by Paul Ramsay, outdoor movie showings, presence in Homecoming, Turkey Trot 5K run/walk, and week-long Battle of the Halls events. Also, RHA is always looking for new, current events to bring to campus to build new traditions and memories!
Check the Events Calendar or look for RHA on NvolveU for all the upcoming events.
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Students posing in front of "Huskers" golf cart for Homecoming Parade. -
Students posing with flower bouquets at RHA's Bouquet Making event. -
Trivia Night display for RHA's Battle of the Halls event. -
Students posing with dodgeballs for RHA's dodgeball tournament. -
Student leaders at the annual Leadership Retreat.
Conferences
Regional and International Representation
RHA is affiliated with regional and international organizations related to student leadership within the residence halls. These organizations are called the Midwest Affiliate of College and University Residence Halls (MACURH) and the National Association of College and University Residence Halls (NACURH) and are run by college and university students to represent college and university students.
Each year, RHA sends a delegation of student leaders to represent Nebraska to learn more about various events and initiatives taking place across the world and to act as voting representatives for our campus residence hall organizations in large boardroom settings. Our campus liaisons review anything from awards, large organization budget models, conference and board of director bids, and legislation impacting institutions affiliated with the organization and beyond. These conferences also serve as an opportunity for students to build their leadership skills, make worldwide connections, and expand their horizons.
Initiatives
Every year, the RHA Senate comes together with new ideas on ways to improve the student residential experience and student experience on campus! With new students comes new concerns and desires to improve. Over the last few years, RHA Senate has collaborated with different campus partners to bring new resources to the students or make physical improvements to the residence halls to make them safer or to offer more fun opportunities.
If there are ways you'd like to improve the student experience on campus, join RHA or talk with your residence hall's student representatives! We'd love to hear your ideas.
Abel Hall Safety Measures
Increased security for residents
RHA Senate after hearing concerns from a student staff member worked with University Housing to develop a plan to increase security measures for the residents of Abel Hall, a predominantly first-year residence hall with a communal welcome center and dining hall.
To most closely resemble other residence halls on campus, RHA Senate advocated for additional student ID scanners to be installed within Abel Hall to only allow residents of Abel Hall to access the residential areas of the residence hall.
Register to Vote
Civically engaged Huskers
RHA always wants to ensure residents are well-informed and civically engaged! Therefore, RHA Senate often collaborates with the Husker Vote Coalition to offer non-partisan information to residents and assist residents to get registered to vote, how to absentee vote for out-of-state students, and where to find student voting locations.
Previously, RHA Senate in partnership with the Husker Vote Coalition were able to offer free stamps at residence hall front desks so residents could send out absentee votes with ease.
Free Menstrual Products
During the first few weeks of the Fall 2022 semester, a question was presented to the RHA Senate about access to menstrual products in the residence halls and whether this is something that could be provided. Seeing a need, RHA Senate advocated to University Housing to request adding menstrual products to first floor women's and gender-neutral restrooms to increase access to these products and offer them in case of need for students.
Dispensers in restrooms offer Hospeco® Original Regular Tampax® Tampons & Maxithins® Maxi Pads. Dispensers are monitored and restocked between Monday-Friday, 7:00AM - 4:00PM during bathroom cleaning schedules based on supplies. If you find a restroom is not being restocked, you can email RHA at unlrha@gmail.com or file a work order for the restroom through MyRed.
These products are meant to be supplemental for residents' needs. Other resources on campus for menstrual products can be found at the UNL Gender & Sexuality Center and through their online menstrual product request form. To learn more about menstrual products and what may be best for you, visit the menstrual products resource page.
Safer Sex Kits
Offering kits in residence halls
While this partnership no longer exists within the residence halls, RHA Senate had collaborated with UNL's Gender and Sexuality Center (GSC) and the Association of Students of the University of Nebraska (ASUN) to offer Safer Sex Kits in the residence halls for free. Luckily, these kits are still offered through the GSC and other campus distribution points.
Please follow the links below for any additional information or resources offered at UNL:
