Many Creighton students are aware of the Inter Residence Hall Government (IRHG),but fewer understand its true role. This resident-run organization strives to improvestudents’ experiences by advocating on behalf of residents and fostering communitythrough engaging events.
The structure of IRHG consists of two main groups.
First, there is the Executive Board, which focuses on campus-wide initiatives, including planning multiple campus-wideevents and coordinating a sense of unity and collaboration between the differentResidence Hall Councils.
The second group is the Residence Hall Councils. EachResidence Hall has a council made up of residents living in the hall that are elected by
the student body in the dorm. These councils include presidents, vice presidents andsenators who represent groups of residents.
Together, these councils come together todiscuss issues facing each dorm hall and write legislative proposals based on input fromstudents, which are then submitted to Housing and Auxiliary Services for approval.
This offers a unique opportunity for students within the dorm halls to gain experience andcomfort in every step of the leadership process, from planning to execution.
Luke Chronik,a seniorin the College of Arts and Sciencesand theassistant resident directorof Opus Hall, has been involved in IRHG since his freshman year and attributes IRHG tohelping him grow.
“Involvement in IRHG gave me a lot of the leadership skills [and] experiencethat helped form the person I am today,” Chronik said.
Beyond administrative work, IRHG is best known for its community building events.
The event that people most associate with IRHG is the annual Welcome WeekBINGO event that they hold every year, designed to help residents become aware of IRHGand get excited about the year. That is not, however, the biggest event they organize.
Another huge event that is planned by IRHG, though many people may not realize that fact, is Christmas atCreighton, a festive celebration that brings the entire campus together for the holidayseason. This is the event wherethe Christmas lights are first turned on down the California Street Pedestrian Mall, after which festive food and drinks are served in celebration of the holiday season.
Looking at event planning, IRHG has generally felt good about the events they have hostedso far this year, with most yielding a decent turnout.
McGloin Resident DirectorTaylor Linn, said she is very enthusiastic about this year, explaining that engagement is up by over100% compared to last year. Linn considered that statistic a good sign when looking forward to the rest ofthe school year.
While most people are familiar with IRHG through its events, fewerrealize that the organization also addresses resident concerns. Through the RHCs, studentscan voice issues ranging from maintenance to policy changes. Recent proposals havefocused on improving communal spaces and expanding accessible laundry services.These ideas are discussed and voted on at General Assembly meetings, whererepresentatives from each hall participate.