The Residence Hall Association is a Southeast Missouri State University organization meant to improve the lives of on-campus students.

The members hold meetings once a week to discuss issues such as dining, philanthropy, problems within the halls, funding and programming. The meetings are open to all students with outside organizations offering updates from their meetings as well. A few of the organizations involved are Greek Life, National Residence Hall Honorary and Student Activities Council.

RHA member Zach Barker is part of the committee for the No Frills 2014 conference that will be held at Southeast in February. Barker is a junior from East Prairie, Mo., and is a resident assistant in New Hall.

How long have you been a part of the Residence Hall Association?

I have been in RHA for three semesters. I spent two of those semesters as the programming coordinator.

What is RHA's main role on campus?

The main role of RHA is to act as the voice for the residence halls. It is in place to help fund improvements to halls, such as pool tables and kitchen supplies, but most importantly we are here to help relay important information from other organizations to hall directors and resident assistants that they can share with residents.

What is NACURH/MACURH?

NACURH is the National Association of College and University Residence Halls. NACURH's mission is to make the on-campus living experience as great as possible by providing resources, such as communication gateways with other schools to share ideas that could make the living experience on campus even better. Over 400 different schools are members of NACURH and they are divided into eight regional affiliates. MACURH, the Midwest Affiliate of College and University Residence Halls, is where Southeast finds its home.

How are they related to No Frills? What is No Frills?

There are three conferences a year held within the NACURH system: the national conference, the regional conference and the regional business conference. No Frills is the regional business meeting held every year by the MACURH region.

How long have you been preparing for No Frills?

The No Frills conference has been in our sights since June 2012 on the bus ride back home from Colorado where we had just attended NACURH. Planning the conference began in August of 2012.

When does this event take place?

The dates for the conference are Feb. 7-8, 2014. If for some reason the conference has to be moved, the back-up dates are Feb. 14-15, 2014.

What will you be doing that whole time?

The No Frills conference is a big business meeting. Executives from each school's Residence Hall Association will sit in a room together and discuss different strategies and techniques they have used in their schools to better the on-campus living experience. We then bring those ideas back to our RHA and our residence halls in hopes of having the same success as other schools.

How was Southeast chosen? What did you have to do to get chosen?

A 58-page bid was assembled containing everything from the anticipated budget to the restaurants closest to the hotels where we have our guests staying. Upon approval of the bid, we had to present at the No Frills 2013 conference and answer any questions that 40-plus schools had about our bid. Unfortunately, we were unable to make it to that conference due to a freak snow storm that covered every road between us and the hosting school. Long story short, we ended up presenting over Skype and were chosen by the other schools in our region to host the conference.

How many different schools will be coming to Southeast to participate?

We will have up to 43 schools in attendance at the conference.

Are there any activities other Southeast students would be interested in participating in with No Frills?

Volunteers will be needed in large quantities and those ready to work will be readily accepted by our team. There is a lot that goes into hosting a conference that many people without the experience are not aware of.

What does No Frills do for RHA? Why exactly do you all participate in this event?

The conference will help us to share ideas with other schools as to how we can improve our residence halls. RHA acts as the relay for this information.