A Timeless Tradition of Leadership

By Leah Davis
History and party supplies merge in a basement of Helaman Halls. In a shadowy
corner, yellowed albums preserve events organized by the Residence Halls Association
(RHA). For over fifty years, this leadership council has allowed first-year students to hav[e]
a vision and translat[e] that vision into executable actions, says Julie Franklin (BA 89), a
council member as an undergrad. RHA has not changedhall representatives still plan
monthly eventsbut the experience changes council members, helping them emerge from
the shadows of being one in a crowd and become leaders in their community. Franklin now
serves as BYUs Director of Housing, witnessing others invest themselves in RHA to
mak[e] life a little better for someone elseone event at a time.