Residence halls take a trip back in time

Photo: Taylor Soule

Students at Drake University may have noticed that residence halls have been putting on decade-themed programs this week. This is all a part of Residence Hall Association Week, and the theme this year is “Drake Through the Ages.”

“RHA Week has been a Drake tradition for some time now,” said sophomore Sumit Sen, vice president of RHA and chair of the programming board. “I don’t really know why or how it started, but I am glad that it did.

The purpose of this week is to increase RHA’s presence on campus and show the campus that we can put forth some excellent programs for our residents.

“The programming board is in charge of setting the theme for RHA week and coordinating theme-related programs in their respective residence halls,” Sen added. “It also includes coordinating the timings of each event so that none conflict with another.”

Sen and the programming board designated a decade to each residence hall, starting from the year Drake was founded.

On Monday, Morehouse and Herriott Halls started off the festivities with a 1910 Spanish Revolution Fiesta and a 1950s Sock Hop, respectively. Goodwin Kirk (‘90s), Crawford (‘60s) and Stalnaker (2000s) hosted programs yesterday and Tuesday ranging from karaoke, tie-dye and a Drake-themed reality show.

Sophomore Emily Gadient, publicity co-chair of RHA, has been helping to make sure the word gets out about these programs.

“I’m in charge of publicity for RHA events as well as helping out the publicity chairs from each hall’s (executive council) to make sure they have the resources to publicize for their hall’s events,” Gadient said. “For RHA week, we have been helping the publicity chairs with their publicity as well as creating and hanging up RHA posters about the entire week’s events.”

Tonight, a 1940s War Game Night will be going on in Jewett, and a 1920s Prohibition Bar will follow in Carpenter.

Ross Hall will put the cap on RHA week tomorrow with a 1980s Thrift Store Prom. Sophomore Udit Parikh, president of Ross Hall, has been putting in a lot of work to make this program a success.

“There are many members on the executive council, and they were each assigned something to do,” Parikh said. “Some people will be getting decorations, and some people will help set up. Also, food will be taken care of by someone.”

Gadient said she is excited for tomorrow’s event.

“The Thrift Store Prom is one of the only events I can actually attend, and it is going to be really cool because each hall is invited to wear clothes from their decade in Morehouse ballroom on Friday,” Gadient said. “My roommate and I love going shopping at the Goodwill (store), so that will make for an awesome Friday night.”

So far, RHA Week’s events have been a success, and the RHA board hopes that success will continue. Parikh suspects that more people will attend than just the ones who have said they will attend on Facebook.

“I hope the program will bring at least 50 people,” Parikh said. “We have been getting the word out, and there are posters on campus. We are trying to advertise as much as we can by telling people and encouraging them to attend.”