Waller Hall Government
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a hall government and what do they do?
A hall government is a group of students who represent the interests,
needs, and opinions of the residents living in their hall community.
Typically, governments meet weekly to plan various programs for
the hall, coordinate participation in campus and community events
such as Homecoming, and represent their hall in weekly Residence
Hall Association (RHA) meetings.
How and when is your hall government chosen?
Most of the executive members, such as the President and the Vice
President, are elected in the Spring semester before the end
of the academic year. However, a number of other positions, such
as Floor Sponsors and the Secretary, are elected at the each
semester – at the start of Fall semester for the Fall semester
and in December for the Spring semester . According to the Waller
Constitution, members of Waller Hall may cast their vote by secret
ballot during the general election.
How can I get in contact with someone on your hall government?
You may contact the Waller Hall Government by the Waller Hall front desk at 335-3910.
What activities does Waller Hall have during the year?
The Hall Government hosts a number of events and activities throughout
the year, including their popular annual Blacklight Dance in
September, a Duchess Week – a full week of social programs
in which residents from across campus socialize with the men
of Waller to be crowned the Duchess honor at the culminating
Duchess Dance event, and Cougar Pride Days – a campus and
hall pride event in which the men in Waller volunteer their time
and labor for an campus / hall improvement project. It should
also be noted that the RA staff in Waller plans a number of
events and activities during the year including such traditions
as the Annual Waller Spelling Bee, a Date Dash with our sister
residence halls, academic and scholarship programs associated
with the Freshman Focus program, and involvement in various campus
and community service activities; there isn’t a week that
there is not some sort of program or activity going on in the
hall.
What government positions are available at the floor/house level
and how can I get involved?
Each of the four floors in this hall elect a floor representative,
referred to as sponsors. Sponsors participate in weekly government
meetings and represent all the residents that live on their floor.
There are also a variety of volunteer positions that the President
appoints; these positions include Historian, Intramurals Chair,
and Hall Improvement Chairperson. If you are interested in any
of these involvement opportunities, please contact the president
as soon as you move into Waller.
What government positions are available at the hall level and
how can I get involved?
In addition to the floor sponsor positions, there are a number
of executive government positions, including President, Vice President,
Treasurer, and Head Sponsor, available each year. Per the constitution
in this hall, executive government members are elected in the Spring
semester for the following academic year and must be members of
Waller at the time of election. We might also add that there are
other opportunities for involvement in the hall as a Resident Assistant
(RA) and Community Assistant (CA). Please see the Advanced Paraprofessional
(AP) or Resident Education Director (RED) in your hall for more
information.
On what does the government spend my $25 each semester?
The $25 each semester that you pay in dues funds all of the hall
activities and programs during the year – from the annual
Black Light dance to weekly RA programming, even the small budget
that each corridor receives every semester.
What hall equipment items are available to check-out at the front
desk?
At the Waller front desk, you may check out a variety of recreation
equipment, including a ping pong set for use on the table downstairs,
DVDs and VCRs, basketballs for use on the outdoor court, billiard
equipment for use on the pool table downstairs, footballs, air
hockey pucks and paddles for use on the table downstairs, among
other things. In addition, we also have cooking utensils and vacuums
for you to check out as well as an iron and ironing board. You
may check out any of this equipment at the front desk with your
student ID card.
When do the hall and floor governments meet?
The Waller Hall government currently meets on Sundays at 7:00 pm
in the Waller Hall Lobby, though this time and place may change
every semester at the government’s discretion.
Does Waller Hall provide any leadership training for people interested
in becoming involved?
Waller Hall does provide a leadership training program. In the
Fall semester, the Advanced Paraprofessional runs our Community
Assistant (CA) program. Interested residents apply and are selected
for the opportunity to work in conjunction with the paraprofessional
staff to hone their leadership skills – particularly in the
areas of interpersonal communication, event planning, and team/community
development.
I understand Waller Hall receives funds to reduce hall damages.
Tell me more about the program and on what such money can be spent.
Waller receives a semester deposit from the Housing Department
that can only be used for hall improvement items. This
fund is available to use to purchase new hall items and equipment,
but when hall damages occur, they are paid through this fund. In
the past, Waller has bought a stainless steel grill to use at hall
BBQs and a large projection screen and LCD movie projector.
How can I get on the move-in crew and help other residents get
settled into the hall at the beginning of the year?
Waller does not have its own move-in crew for its residents. However,
we do send our RA staff and any interested residents and/or government
members as a crew to help our sister halls, Wilmer-Davis Hall and
Stevens Hall, with their move-in. If you are interested in helping
out during the Week of Welcome, please contact the Waller Hall
Front Desk at 335-3910 or the RA on your floor.
