The Inter-Residence Hall Association discussed a proposal from the Treasurer’s Office to change the way students are billed for housing fees.

John Shertzer, IRHA adviser and residence life coordinator, said the individual houses are currently responsible for setting the amount for dues and collecting the money. Students are charged IRHA and association dues in September, separately from the rest of their housing bill, he said.

“The problem that currently exists is the Treasurer doesn’t want to send out that separate billing unless they have to,” he said. He also pointed out that students must pay differing amounts of fees and often move from residence halls, leaving them feeling as though they’ve wasted money.

Shertzer said the Treasurer’s Office is looking into charging students the same fees and putting them on the July U-Bill, with the rest of the housing payment.

Carl Carlson, director of finance, said the change would keep students from feeling as though they are paying hidden charges throughout the year.

“It accurately reflects the cost of living in the residence halls,” he said.

Sarai Arnold, Barton-Lyon-Freeman-Fisher/Nickell representative, said it is often difficult for individual houses to personally collect dues from students, and placing dues directly on U-bills would alleviate that problem.

Birch-Welch-Roberts Representative Clinton Middaugh said changes were needed. “The current system is a joke,” he said. “This would be a fix.”

Shertzer said students moving off campus would not be reimbursed for dues. Houses would still be allowed to charge optional dues, he said.

Also, a bill allocating $1500 to the Ballroom Dance Company to help fund its Nov. 9 competition was passed after some debate.

“I have serious reservations on this [bill],” said Towers Residence Association President Dave Breutzmann. “They’re asking us for money [the Government of the Student Body] denied them and I don’t think IRHA should be in the business of doing that.”

He also noted the Ballroom Dance Company’s failure to request the money early and failure to send a representative to answer questions.

“I definitely do agree with some of the reservations,” said Linden Hall Representative Andy Tugan, “but the fact is this is a good thing.”

Jennie Erwin, Union Drive Association president and author of the bill, said the event had the potential to benefit all residence hall students.

Also at the meeting, Heather Minish, director of conferences, outlined some of the duties of the newly formed Residence Hall Leadership Organization. These duties will include some of Conferences, which was split off from IRHA earlier this year.

The new group, Minish said, will also work on Cy’s All Campus Leadership Summit and put on residence hall student government conferences.

Minish said the group will continue to be affiliated with IRHA.

Joe Darr, GSB vice president, also attended the meeting to promote the GSB Comedy Festival.

Other business:

A bill lessening the amount of paperwork needed to amend a bill was passed.

A bill that would allocate $200 to the Freshman Council for an alcohol-free tailgate party was introduced.