Residence Hall Association President Nathan Boudreaux and Vice President Doug Fields will be ringing in the New Year without three members of their executive staff.
After the beginning of the semester break, Boudreaux and Field signed letters dismissing Chief of Staff Amy Scales, National Communications Chair Denelle Walker and Director of Information Technology Justin Gravois from their positions on the RHA executive staff effective immediately.
Fields said they issued the letters Dec. 13, early enough to give Scales, Walker and Gravois time to seek new employment during the break and give RHA time to make changes with minimal disruptions.
Walker said she, Scales and Gravois received identical letters which said, “Thank you for your service to the Residence Hall Association Executive Staff during the past semester. You have provided many hours of work dedicated to the residents of Louisiana State University. Unfortunately, we can no longer offer you a position on the RHA Executive Staff. This decision does not reflect the quality of work you provided, but the amount of time necessary to achieve certain objectives of the Executive Staff. You are obviously very well rounded and have many activities that will conflict with mandatory RHA activities. RHA will never forget the services you gave the organization. Please don’t be a stranger.”
According to the RHA constitution, Boudreaux, as president, has the power to “[t]o dismiss executive staff, excepting the Commissioner of Elections, at his discretion.” 
Walker said she never missed an RHA event and missed one meeting during her time on the executive staff. She said she never was notified that she was on the verge of being fired and never was told that her work was unsatisfactory.
Scales said she missed one event, but spoke with the program coordinator and e-mailed the executive staff a week in advance to notify them of her absence.
“I do not believe that the letter lists any justifiable reason to fire Denelle, Justin, or me,” Scales said. ”One member on exec staff who was not dismissed is involved in many of the same activities as Denelle and me.” 
Scales and Walker both said they have received e-mails and phone calls from members of the RHA assembly expressing their feelings on the dismissals.
“I think they did their jobs well, and were extremely committed,” said Katherine Gouner, president of the Laville Area Council. “Amy was planning Snow Day and did the retreat. Denelle was working on a Mardi Gras ball and got us to two conferences and was planning the one we are hosting.”
Gouner said Gravois worked with the computers, made RHA advertisements publicizing events and maintained the RHA Web site.
Gouner said Boudreaux gave the executive staff members each a raise of $50 and himself $100 on the fall budget. After discussing the prudence of the raises, the Assembly agreed to add the raises in both the fall and spring 2004 budgets.
“Nathan even said the reason for giving everyone raises was because they had all done such a good job,” Gouner said.
Gouner also said she was shocked by the dismissals.
“I think as a whole, [RHA members] feel slighted,” Walker said. “This is supposed to be a governing organization where people have a vote in what goes on. This was not voted on by anyone, except Nathan and Doug.”
Walker said a decision as big as the removal of executive staff members should been discussed with assembly members and advisers, but it was not.
“I think a general consensus is that [assembly members] are not happy with this decision because they know how hard Amy, Justin and I work and they see the direct effects of the job that we do and they would not have consented to our dismissals,” Walker said.
Scales said every other decision must be passed by the RHA Assembly.
Boudreaux notified RHA members of the open spots in a broadcast e-mail dated Dec. 19. Boudreaux also said there would be an application process to fill the positions, and the applications would be e-mailed later to all qualified RHA members.
Fields said it is possible for the three to again run for office in RHA, but Walker said she will not re-apply for her position.
“I do not feel that under the leadership now RHA is a good working environment, and I no longer have confidence in the leadership for obvious reasons,” Walker said. “But I really do want to be involved in the future.”
Scales also said she would not be playing the same role in RHA next semester.
 “[I]f given the opportunity, I would not work in the same environment,” Scales said. ”But I love RHA and the people involved in it too much to walk away now.”
Scales said she will go to the events during the spring semester and has told council members she still will help them with coordinating events if they need the help.
 “Amy, Denelle, and Justin are good friends with many people in the RHA community and the LSU community, including me,” Fields said. “Nobody likes to see their friends dismissed from their jobs.  I am sure that many people are sad about what happened.  Amy, Denelle, and Justin are wonderful people that do countless things for LSU through many different organizations. Members of RHA, including me, respect them very much.”
When reached for comment, Boudreaux said he would not be able to answer questions until he returned from vacation.