The ISU Inter-Residence Hall Association should be commended. Because of their hard work and professionalism, they managed to get something accomplished that their constituents wanted. And these weren’t small accomplishments, either. IRHA negotiated with the ISU Department of Residence, who instituted several of their requests regarding Veishea rule changes.

The work by IRHA is a great example of what student government is all about on a college campus. The constituents expressed a concern, the governmental body brought this concern to the administration, and through a process of negotiation, this concern was partially alleviated. IRHA recognized what it could achieve on campus – small goals that truly can be accomplished with some effort – instead of spending all their time trying to win futile battles.

IRHA originally had four requests for change regarding Veishea policies in the dorms – having fewer resident assistant rounds, unlocking access doors within buildings, removing the special visitor policy, and allowing residents who are of age to consume alcohol in their rooms.

All but the alcohol change was negotiated with the Department of Residence, a feat that is not only commendable, but remarkable.

At first, the IRHA bill stated that if the four requests were not negotiated, the organization would boycott Veishea. Thankfully, this unnecessary and juvenile threat was removed, which would have made the governmental organization look much less professional. Instead, the organization went into negotiations on a much stronger note, prepared to negotiate for what they considered was right for its constituents.

Campus government organizations should take note. The process by which IRHA accomplished this was exactly what every campus government should do. First off, constituents cared about an issue.

IRHA then cared enough about their constituents to tackle that issue in a productive and professional manner. Working hand in hand with the administration responsible for changes, three out four changes were made, stopping short only of the alcohol policy, which administrators already stated would not be altered.

Students trek out of the dorms come Veishea. These changes will make the dorms a more student-friendly atmosphere during the celebration. Security, a major concern of students living in the dorms, will be relaxed. The visitor policy in place will be less stringent. And resident assistant rounds will no longer be increased during the Veishea weekend. All of these were issues the students in the dorms felt were important.

And IRHA pulled through. Not everything they wanted was negotiated with the Department of Residence, but students should be happy with the changes made. They should also be happy with those who made the changes.

editorialboard: Andrea Hauser, Tim Paluch, Michelle Kann, Charlie Weaver, Omar Tesdell