Syracuse University’s Residence Hall Association has been recognized on a national level for providing its residents not only a space to live, but also a community to call home.

SU’s RHA won the 2002 School of the Year Award from the National Association of College and University Residence Halls last May. After winning a regional award by the Northeast Association of College and University Residence Halls last March, it went on to compete with the winners of the nation’s eight RHA regions to win this national award.

“This award is a good way to recognize all of the hard work and effort that is put in to making our living communities what they are,” said Anne Hoffman, RHA National Communications Coordinator for SU and a sophomore magazine major.

SU’s RHA has been involved in many activities on campus, including events such as “Campus Cabaret” and “the Roommate Game,” and it also oversees the hall councils of each dorm, said Evan Morris, a sophomore political science major and director of finance for RHA.

“Fifty percent of the award is based on campus involvement,” Hoffman said.

Each RHA from colleges across the country are eligible to submit bids for the award. The bid explains how each RHA meets certain NACURH guidelines, said Hoffman. The criteria for selection are based on how the school’s RHA is involvement on campus and their representation at regional and national conferences.

At regional and national conferences, SU students explain their program to other schools across the country.

“Some of the programs we have put on have been looked at by the rest of the country as what all RHAs should be aiming to do,” Morris said.

Members of the RHA from the State University of New York College at Oneonta sat in at several RHA meetings at SU, and the two groups met afterwards to discuss ideas, according to Hoffman.

The SU RHA aims to make residence life here a positive experience, and tries to make it more than a just a space for sleeping.

“The university has become really supportive of the program,” Morris said. “There are a lot of dedicated students who want to make it a residence, a community, not a bedroom.”

Lindsay Boccardo, a freshman in The College of Arts and Sciences, is considering becoming a resident adviser next year, and feels this award is encouraging to those considering an RA position.

“It feels good to be part of such a respectable organization,and I know my time would be served well if I were a part of it. I’ve talked to friends at other schools and they don’t have the same participation in their residence halls,” Boccardo said.

Published on December 3, 2002 at 12:00 pm