Extreme Housing Makeover continues, resident halls compete

Northeastern State University's Residence Hall Association continues its Extreme Housing Makeover competition, which runs until Oct. 17.

EHM is a contest between halls where residents accumulate points by attending programs organized by hall staff.

Basically, residence halls compete against each other by collecting points for the different programs and activities they do in the halls, and the hall with the most points at the end of the competition wins a complete makeover of their lounge, said Tammie Willis, assistant director of Residence Life and Education.

From the day residence halls open in August until mid-October, resident assistants and students from all halls plan and coordinate different programs, activities and events. Each hall is awarded points for students attending or participating. RHA tracks the points and the hall finishing with the most points wins.

The students and staff from each hall submit a wish list of items and renovation ideas to RHA, which submits the winning list to an interior designer that incorporates the ideas into a new lounge design. The renovation is completed over winter break and revealed during the spring semester.

The competition is strong this year," said Willis. "Currently, Logan Hall is in the lead but is closely followed by South Leoser. Every hall has hosted some unique and successful programs and there has been a lot of thinking outside the box and creative programming to draw students to the programs in support of their residence halls.

Willis said EHM benefits the residence hall communities on two levels. Firstly, the residents of the winning building get an improved common gathering place for socializing and studying. Secondly, the programming enhances community building in all halls, bringing students together to pursue a common goal and interact and leading to friendships and new experiences.

This shows that we are active in making programs tailored to residents, whether it be getting them in better physical condition, teaching them how to make meals in housing-approved appliances or simply getting them out of their rooms and meeting the people within their building, said Heather Emery, RHA president.

Willis said socially engaged students are less likely to drop out of college and that EHM facilitates social activity from the first day the residence halls open.

It helps them meet new people, build new social networks, explore new experiences and become actively engaged on multiple levels, said Willis. Plus it gives students a say in a major renovation within their residence halls.