This week, the United Residence Halls Council (URHC) took over Presidential Courtyard to show the class of 2015 how fun life on campus can really be by introducing them to VolFest. URHC brought with them an inflatable basketball setup, a tanning salon, live music from 104.5 WKHT and even whitewater rafting.
    
“The event went down really well,” Michael Henry, senior in music and URHC president said. “We’re very excited for the upcoming year. We have lots of events planned already, so hopefully we can bring lots of fun to the residents of UT.”
    
URHC is the second largest student organization, composed of all students living on campus. URHC’s purpose is to make campus living easier through programming, service, community and leadership.
    
The group runs events, helps residents with issues and makes campus living a more enjoyable experience.
    
As Hannah Seivers, freshman in animal science, stood in line eagerly awaiting her first static whitewater rafting experience, she had only good things to say about her campus living experience of so far.
    
Seivers described how helpful everyone in URHC has been in getting freshmen settled in. She said leaving home for the first time can be a daunting experience, so to get that little bit of extra help whenever she needs is great. The events they have been putting on have been so much fun as well, she said.
    
Not content with merely providing entertainment, URHC also had stalls providing useful information and services, such as the UT Police Department’s Operation Identification sign up table.
    
The Operation Identification Program is part of UTPD’s Community Relations Unit (CRU).
    
“UT faculty, staff and students can have their valuables engraved,” Special Operations Lt. Emily Simerly said. “Typically we will engrave iPods and computers, as well as bicycles.”
    
She recommends that people have their driver’s license numbers engraved onto their valuables, although any information, such as names and code words specific to a person, can be engraved.
    
Just recently, first-year doctoral student Avik Mukherjee lost his iPod. The 30GB iPod was turned in to UTPD’s lost and found, where officers noticed it was engraved and registered with the Operation Identification Program and subsequently returned it to him.
    
UTPD officers also had good things to say about the URHC on-campus events.
    
“These guys have been doing this event for the past four years and it just gets better and better each year,” Sgt. Donnie Ross said. “It’s a pleasure to work with these guys and also to be able to provide a helpful service to campus residents.”
    
All in all, the event was a great success, and URHC is geared up for an exciting year ahead.
    
For those interested in helping out, there is a general meeting on Monday, Aug. 29 at 8:30 p.m. in the Shiloh Room in the UC.
    
For more information, contact URHC via their Facebook page, URHC Rocks!, or by e-mail at urhc1@utk.edu.