Apartments aren’t dorms. It was this simple fact that made Hawthorn Court residents vote 172-151 Tuesday not to join the Inter-Residence Hall Association. Apartment dwellers and dorm residents have different needs. Although built by the Department of Residence, the new apartment complexes are not residence halls. As much as the Department of Residence would like Hawthorn Court to “build community,” junior and senior Hawthorn residents don’t need the social encouragement of ice cream socials and “brother and sister floors” that are found in dorms. Just as Hawthorn residents have different needs than dormies, they need to have different government representation. Since Hawthorn residents have decided not to join IRHA, it’s time for them to take the next step – forming their own government. Hawthorn is currently represented only by Buchanan Hall, a graduate and adult undergraduate living complex. This also is not the kind of representation Hawthorn needs. Having the Department of Residence run apartment buildings is different from having a landlord who lives down the hall, and there will be bumps in the road. Hawthorn residents need a unified voice to bring their concerns to the university. An organized government gives residents that voice. The proposed constitution residents voted against Tuesday is a great place to start. Eliminate IRHA, and there’s a proposal Hawthorn residents can live with. Editorial Board:Carrie Tett, Greg Jerrett, Katie Goldsmith, Amie Van Overmeer and Andrea Hauser