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Want money? If you’re in a residence hall, you’re getting your wish.
University of Maine residence halls have recently been awarded $1,000 for programming or purchases to benefit residents for Residence Life and Programs. The money comes from the unused salary of the Residence Life and Programs associate director position, which has been vacant since last year.
The search for an associate director started in October of 2004, but since one has not yet been found, there is extra money left in the ResLife budget. ResLife is funded by Student Auxiliary Services, and any unused funds are given back to them at the end of the budget period in July. The room and board residential students pay funds SAS each semester, so ResLife wanted to give some back to the students.
“If you have any [money] this is the time to do it,” said Barbara Smith, ResLife and Programs director.
Residence halls usually receive a few hundred dollars each year to do similar activities, but with surplus funds, hall staffs are able to do more for the students.
“It’s all about the students,” Smith said.
The hall size is also being taken into consideration when distributing the funds. For example, Halls like Oak, Balentine and Colvin do not hold as many residents as Knox and Oxford. Each hall is spending what they need and the unused money from the smaller halls is given to the larger halls.
Laura Pruyne, Hart Hall resident director, said in an e-mail that the Hart Hall staff and Hall Governing Board would be holding a barbecue for all of the Hart Hall residents. During the barbecue there will be food, games and a raffle. Also, a door prize will be given to all Hart residents that attend.
“I can’t tell you [what the door prize is], it’s a surprise. Its just something small, but fun,” Pruyne said.
While Hart Hall has chosen to hold a barbecue, all the halls have chosen to do something different. One hall is planning an overnight camping trip with MaineBound for all residents that want to attend, another has purchased t-shirts with the hall name on it and yet another is planning a block party.
Smith said she hopes students will take advantage of this rare opportunity to be doted upon at the end of this spring semester, it is not very often that extra money is given to causes like this on campus.
“I wish we could do this every year … It’s a nice way to end it,” said Smith. “It puts some closure on the year.”
Bangor Daily News