Residence Hall Association is hoping to make a splash when it hosts its first dive-in movie next week.

The event will be held at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Anderson Athletic and Recreation Complex pool. Sophomore Kody Kantor, a RHA member, said the idea for the event originated from the council’s executive board meetings.

“Our programmers this year wanted to do some new activities that the Residence Hall Association hasn’t done before, and we thought it would be a cool idea if we had a movie in the pool,” Kantor said.

Sophomore Ellen Mathiowetz, also a member of RHA, said she contacted Aquatic Director Tom Hodgson in early September to begin planning the event.

“(Hodgson) was really good about the logistics and setting everything up with that. We’ve been talking with him, with the lifeguards, advertising just making sure everything is in place and that we have people who are excited about coming,” Mathiowetz said.

To make the idea a reality, RHA had to be granted permission to reserve the space and make sure there would be lifeguards on duty. It also had to contact Information Resources and Technology to ensure the movie was functional with the PA system.

Kantor said RHA has provided everything for students to enjoy the event.

“All that they need to do is bring themselves. We have out-of-pool seating; we have plenty of floaties. If they don’t want to swim … or if they get sick of the water, they can sit outside the pool, too,” Kantor said.

Aquatic Director Tom Hodgson said as a “practical matter,” he does not recommend students stay in the pool for the duration of the movie and that students should be aware of their swimming ability.

“We asked that the event not exceed 150 people. I am trusting RHA to monitor that number. In my discussions with the RHA organizers, we did stress that there is no shallow water, so people going in the water need to know how to swim,” Hodgson said.

Hodgson said working with RHA to plan out the logistics was not a difficult process.

“RHA was willing to keep food outside the pool area. The three guards that come on duty at 7:30 p.m. were more than happy to stay through until 10:30 p.m.,” Hodgson said.

Sticking with the water theme, RHA decided to play “Finding Nemo,” and the event will include a water-related giveaway.

“We’re giving away water bottles. Inside of the water bottle, we are going to talk about our December event with a little message in there,” Kantor said.

Sophomore Tori Haider said she thinks the dive-in movie is a fun idea, but not something that would make her want to spend that much time in a pool.

“Finding Nemo is a quality movie, but I don’t think it would get me in a pool for two hours,” Haider said.

Freshman Evan Keil said this is the perfect opportunity to combine his two favorite activities.

“The movie selection could not be more fitting. ‘Finding Nemo’ by itself is fantastic; add in a pool and some floaties and this will be a night to remember,” Keil said.

Additional prizes may be offered to students who attend the event as well. Sophomore RHA member Jessica Mechtenberg said students can put their name into a raffle for a drawing at the end of the movie.

“We’re going to raffle Sea Life. We’re going to have snorkeling, and that is going to be the grand prize. Then we’re going to have a thing at Waterpark of America where you can learn how to surf, and then there will be two other ones for just day passes at Waterpark of America,” Mechtenberg said.

Haider said the prizes, which include Waterpark of America passes and a snorkeling at Sea Life experience, should be a draw for students to attend.

“Of course I would want to snorkel at Sea Life for free. That’s a prize that most students wouldn’t turn down,” Haider said.

Zach Zumbusch can be reached at zumb8499@stthomas.edu.