Hall Council members and resident assistants traveled to the Southwest Affiliate of College and University Residence
Halls Regional Conference to collaborate with other hall councils amongst Louisiana,
Oklahoma, Texas, Mississippi, Georgia, Florida and Arkansas.
The group returned from the conference with many fresh ideas and new events they plan to host in
the upcoming semester.
Courtesy of Hall Council
 

University housing staff, Hall Council executive board and many other residential students attended the annual Southwest Affiliate of College and University Residence Halls (SWACURH) Regional Conference.  The group traveled to Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas to join other students from universities throughout Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas, Mississippi, Georgia, Florida and Arkansas to experience the theme Blazing New Trails from October 22 to 24. While there, students partook in competitions including Roll Call, Spirit, Banner, Duckorations, a Duck Decoration, Display and Overall Participation.

Students who attended hoped to bring everything they learned back to campus to further involve residential living.

“While at SWACURH, I participated in activities called Roll Call, New Delegate Introduction and programs that will help improve community within the residence halls,” said senior education major and resident assistant Wendy Rhodes.

At the conference, Hall Council represented the campus with pride.

“At SWACURH, we participated in programming, marketing and how to get residents more involved,” said Hall Council president Taylor Williams. “The conference does something called a ‘swap-shop’ where people give out all kinds of things like T-shirts, buttons and anything with their university’s name on it. It allows us to get our name out there.”

Even though the students did not receive any awards throughout the weekend, they still feel SWACURH was rewarding.

“SWACURH was very beneficial,” said Rhodes. “I have more knowledge on how to advertise through social media outlets to let residents know what is going on around campus. I have gained more programming ideas as well. Most importantly, we learned effective ways to become successful in reaching our residents and encouraging them to become more involved within their residence halls and campus.”

According to Williams, the council plans to gain more interest regarding residential life by implementing new programs and events that other southern universities have found beneficial.

SWACURH has given the council many new ideas.

“Hall Council has gotten many new ideas,” said junior history major and residential assistant Scott Copper. “Beyond ideas for promoting our standing programs better, we are now looking at more hall focused events [and] toning down the size of events to reach a more focused and involved group. We are also blazing trails with our community service programs.”

Upon returning from the conference, the council has already begun planning for the upcoming semester.

“For the upcoming semester, we have a lot of things planned,” said Copper. “[Including] a return to our life-sized game night, since it was such a success, and a banquet to congratulate our different residential groups, such as our athletes, freshman and others. We are looking at a ‘Game of Life’ night partnered with the Southeastern Sociological Association, along with more resident-led and focused events to take place specifically in the residence halls for the residents there.”

For more information on Hall Council and residential living, visit the Hall Council page on Southeastern’s website.

While at SWACURH, the council participated in many competitions such as Roll Call, Spirit, Banner, Duckorations,
Display and Overall Participation. The overall theme of the 2015 SWACURH conference was Blazing New Trails.
Courtesy of Hall Council