RHA endorses Chinese New Year event at Kauffman

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln has students from many countries and ethnic backgrounds, and the Residence Hall Association wants students to know more about the people they pass in the halls.

The RHA senate passed a bill at their meeting Sunday to put $100 toward funding a Chinese New Year celebration in Kauffman Center on Feb. 18 at 7 p.m.

In its fourth year, the event includes a presentation about the traditions and culture of the Chinese New Year as well as food from Gourmet China Buffet.

The celebration is the biggest of Kauffman's three events each year — the other two are a German Food Day in September and a Mashed Potatoes Day for St. Patrick's Day.

Last year more than 100 students attended the Chinese New Year celebration, said the Kauffman Residence Association's Cultural Committee Chair Julia Menez, a sophomore actuarial science major.

Menez answered RHA senators' questions about the event's logistics, such as advertising, drinks and attendance.

"(You have to) make sure you think about where the money's coming from for advertising" and other things before approving the bill, said RHA Treasurer Lucas Sevedge, a junior philosophy major.

But a solid plan and thought-out details were enough to convince the senate.

"I love it when local halls put on diversity events," said RHA President Sammy Nabulsi, a junior political science major.

"I think it's very important that you learn about your peers and neighbors."

Although RHA hosts campus-wide diversity events, Nabulsi said attracting a variety of students and addressing different types of diversity — such as different cultures, gender identities and even professional interests — is difficult on such a broad level.

And that's where hall-specific events have an advantage.

"In different halls there's different types of diversity," Nabulsi said.

Besides the Chinese New Year, RHA is looking toward executive board elections in March.

Any resident can run, regardless of RHA membership.

Nabulsi had been denied a Resident Assistant position and was not even an RHA senator when he ran for president two years ago, and he said it has been a rewarding experience.

"It's the best thing I've done in my campus career."
andreavasquez@dailynebraskan.com