The Association of Residence Hall Students last night elected Vice President Melissa Pressler as its new president for the 1990-91 school year.

In her campaign speech, Pressler announced goals to improve dorm living conditions. She said she planned to push for cable television and microwaves in the dorms and dining commons, improved access to dorms and commons for the handicapped and the provision of fitted bedsheets, a "common complaint" among dorm students.

She further stressed plans to strengthen communication, "the cornerstone for a healthy organization," within the council. Reiterating her vice presidential campaign phrase of: "We've done a lot, but I think we could do more," Pressler also encouraged increased council volunteerism.

"I'm excited -- my batteries are charged and I'm ready to go," she said after the elections.

The council also elected Centre Halls representative Kathleen Rickabaugh as next year's vice president. Rickabaugh pledged to improve council motivation and communication and the council's involvement with residents and other student organizations.

The council voted twice for both Pressler and Rickabaugh before achieving the necessary two-thirds vote.

Pressler ran against Centre Halls president and ARHS representative Craig Group, who declined to run for the vice presidential position after his defeat. Rickabaugh ran contested by South Halls representative Colleen McCarty.

Many council members expressed satisfaction with the results of the election.

"I believe that the new president and vice president of ARHS will be open to new ideas and will communicate well both internally and externally," said East Halls representative Mike Snider.

John Eliot, North Halls president and ARHS representative, agreed, calling Rickabaugh a "wonder" in administrative affairs and expressing his "utmost confidence" in Pressler.

However, Snider apprehensively described the current council as difficult to deal with because of the number of "strong willed" members.

"Each council has its own personality and I hope the next one clicks with these execs," he said.

Next year's ARHS council members will most likely be completely different, Snider said, because some members will be graduating and others will be moving on to different student organizations.

Elections for next year's area representatives and Residence Hall Advisory Board members will be held in conjunction with the Undergraduate Student Government elections on March 21, he added.

Area executive members will be elected in the fall, he said. Representatives and executives generally serve one-year terms, he added.

Leaders from other student organizations, such as Brian Donaldson, the Board of Trustees representative of the Council of Commonwealth Student Governments, and J.P. Muir, a justice on the USG Supreme Court, also attended the elections.

"It's important for possible future leaders to be in touch with the whole entire campus," said Muir, who is running for next year's USG presidency.