Room rate increases proposed by the Department of Residence are larger than in the past, said Randy Alexander, director of residence.

Alexander spoke at Thursday night’s Inter-Residence Hall Association meeting, where he explained the rate increase proposal to members.

Most residence halls will face an increase of 7.6 percent, with Maple Hall receiving the largest increase, sitting at 7.8 percent.

Knapp and Storms Halls, on the other hand, will have no increase in room rates. Alexander said this is because those buildings are not in the same condition as newer buildings, such as Maple, which are in higher demand.

“Hundreds more people ask to be in Maple,” he said.

IRHA President Paul Duncan agreed that the increase is needed.

“It’s a little higher than past years, but I do agree that it is needed because the Department of Residence is making quality improvements in residence halls,” Duncan said.

Some controversial discussion arose when Alexander presented the nine-month rate at Hawthorn Court as $3,826, while a single room at Wilson is $3,970, making Hawthorn $144 cheaper.

“It seems to me interesting that Wallace/Wilson cost more because the level of service at Hawthorn Court is better,” said TRA President Keith Twombley.

Alexander said research has been done showing that “there are people who actually prefer single rooms over Hawthorn Court, so they don’t have to share their space.”

He also added that Hawthorn Court rates might go up in the future, but it was too much to do this year.

Although state budget cuts don’t affect the residence halls directly, Alexander said it will indirectly result in the loss of $5 million in the department.

“For the next several years we have a lot more funds invested than usual,” Alexander said.

Alexander said the suite buildings being built in the Union Drive Association are one example of increased investments. Two “benchmarks” will have to be considered by the department now: debt coverage ratio and carrying a surplus of at least 10 percent.

This means, Alexander said, the department will have to maintain a certain amount of income to cover a certain amount of debt. With upcoming changes, they will drop below the required amount.

“The rates are necessary,” Alexander said.

IRHA will vote on the room rate proposal at this week’s meeting. Duncan said the outlook looks favorable.

“I think there will be some debate, but I think it will pass,” he said.

“I understand budget cuts and I’ve seen it everywhere,” said Jill Kelsay, RCA treasurer. “[The increase] seems like a lot, but if this is what it’s going to take and they’ve done the numbers, I’m not going to second-guess that.”

Also voted on Thursday was the parliament order “Honor Must Be Earned,” which states that the new honors building should not be named after former president Martin Jischke.

Jeff Greiner, UDA president and co-author of the bill, said he received a lot of e-mail about the issue, including a good portion from faculty agreeing with the bill.

Larch Hall Representative Tamara Hudson, however, said the students she spoke with felt the bill was too late.

“The general opinion was that the building should not be named after Jischke . but [students] felt it was an area for GSB to work on and felt it should have come up a year and a half ago when the building was being named,” she said.

Students want IRHA to do something to represent them that’s more “cool,” Hudson said.

“They felt that they pay $13 to IRHA and they should spend more time working on something along the lines of Res Hall Week and ExTRAvaganza,” she said.

The bill passed with 20 people in favor and one person abstaining.

Jessica Raim, UDA at large and co-author of the bill, said they will now begin the process of notifying the appropriate people, such as the Faculty Senate.

New Business

Parliament Bill “What the heck is IRHA?” was presented, proposing that 15,000 brochures be printed at the cost of $1,000. They hope to inform students about IRHA and expect the brochures to last around two years.