On Sunday, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Residence Hall Association furthered the ruling RED Party's green campaign promises by passing a resolution supporting Focus The Nation.
The week-long event, planned for April 20-24, will concentrate on becoming environmentally friendly.
A resolution is merely a means of showing support for something.
Mitch Paine, a junior agricultural sciences and natural resources major who's helping plan Focus the Nation, spoke at the meeting to inform RHA members about the event.
Last year's event went well, but this year they can make it better, he said. This year, there is more time to plan events for the week.
"It's really a chance to get students and the community involved in the policy-making process," Paine said.
Paine said events will be held before and after the week as well.
The week's main event will be a global climate change symposium. Other tentative events include a keynote speaker, a gardening workshop, the opportunity to attend a city council meeting and vegetarian and environmentally friendly cooking lessons.
RHA'S involvement depends on how much the student organization wants to participate.
Sammy Nabulsi, a sophomore political science major and RHA president, said he wants RHA to be involved with Focus The Nation.
He said the event fits in with the green agenda the organization has had this year. RHA has advocated trayless dining halls, biodegradable key cards and a comprehensive recycling program for residence halls.
Nabulsi said with the symposium, he hopes to educate residents about ways to go green.
"I felt it was very important to seek an endorsement from RHA," Paine said.
The Association of Students of the University of Nebraska has already passed a similar bill showing support for Focus The Nation.
"RHA has a more direct relationship with students, I think," Paine said.
Hoping to use that direct relationship, Nathan Derenge, a sophomore accounting major and candidate running for ASUN, came and spoke about the agenda of his party, the Hope and Change Party.
"(The party) is here to cut student fees," he said.
Derenge said the party wants to cut some of the money spent on entertainment. He said this will help give students money, which they can then decide how to spend.
"It's not as if we're eliminating all entertainment on campus," Derenge said.
Nabulsi said it was important for ASUN candidates to speak to RHA because it provides a medium for students in residence halls. He said if the two organizations are on the same page, they can accomplish more for the students at the university.
kimbuckley@dailynebraskan.com
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