My name is Marcus Millen and I am a third year Geography major at CSUSB. I plan to use my major to establish a career either in urban planning, meteorology or GIS mapping. I am currently working on-campus as an Accounting Student Assistant at the Foundation Sponsored Programs Administration. I have lived on campus since I enrolled at CSUSB in the Fall of 2005. During my freshman year, I lived in Serrano Village and participated in the Leadership Academy program. I have lived in Arrowhead Village during my second and third years of college. I joined Arrowhead Village Council in the Winter of 2007, which was during the middle of my second year. I am also a member of the Geography Club. I view a position on the RHA E-Board as an opportunity to help improve the Housing experience for residents.

I consider myself responsible. I honor my commitments to the best of my ability. I’m a good listener, a skillful note taker and could do a great job being on the RHA board. I am also a person who is open-minded, easy to talk to and understandable. I also have experience being the current Arrowhead Village Council secretary. I have held leadership positions in other organizations such as Treasurer and Secretary in Venture Scouting. In that capacity I am responsible for organizing and participating in fundraising events. I earned the rank of Eagle Scout in 2005 - which certifies my leadership abilities. In order to become an Eagle Scout I was required to manage a community service project and I organized and directed over 20 scouts in a project at the Ronald McDonald House in Loma Linda.

I believe living on campus is important because it gives students the opportunity to interact with other residents and clubs at CSUSB. It is an opportunity to live in a diverse environment. In some cases, residents can also develop lifelong friendships. I always promote living on campus because of its convenience - being within walking distance from classes, library, student union, and the new recreational center. Students living on campus also have great access to other campus resources, such as the career center, computer labs and main campus offices. Commuting students now have to contend with the gas prices which are at an all time high. On campus residents save time and energy and are more likely to become involved with student activities.

I would like to get students involved in improving the appearance of Village Square, by organizing and perhaps funding a project for better outdoor landscaping, especially around Arrowhead Village. I would also get students involved in safety and environmental issue such as evaluating energy efficiency around the residence halls, etc. During midterms and final exams we could offer support by organizing short snack breaks. One thing I would do to make campus living more desirable is making tutors more accessible to on-campus residents. We could probably coordinate something with the Learning Center to improve that service. I would bring back some of the competitive events such as dodge ball that was pretty successful during my freshman year. I would get other ideas by communicating with friends living on other campuses to find out what activities are successful there.

One goal I have for the RHA Board is immediately addressing all of the concerns that are going on in all of the villages. Another goal I have for the RHA is brainstorming new (ideas) or concepts, in order for residents to have a better and more successful experience living on campus.