Senate bites into new meal plan discussion

A proposal for meal plan changes next semester was the main topic of Senate’s Monday meeting.

Linda Brownlee of the dining services spoke with senators about the new meal plan changes. There will still be the 14 meal plan with $100 in bonus bucks. The changes are that the 9 meal and 19 meal plans have been cut. In the place of the two meal plans is the 150 meal block and 280 meal block, both including $200 in bonus bucks. There will also be a 5 meal commuter plan for non-resident hall students.

“The block plans were made with the intent to create more flexibility” Aaron Prestwich, executive director of Student Life said. These plans can be used throughout the semester and students would not be constricted by the time frames and only using one meal for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

If extra meals are still available at the end of the semester they will not be reimbursed and will be lost. The hope is that students who are busy will be available to eat their meals whenever their schedule allows, even if it means having two meals in the same meal time frame.

Freshmen are not currently allowed to use the block meal plans, but with the changes they will be allowed to choose them as an option. More information will be announced after it is voted on at the board meeting.

Dani Buckley, CAB president, said CAB, The Pit, and RLA are sponsoring the Nearly Naked Mile run this year. The total budget proposal for the entire event is $7,500.  The entry will be one article of clothing and to receive a T-shirt another article of clothing will be required.

Laure Sinn, Coordinator of Student Activities, reminded everyone of special guest Charley Sampson who will be at Memorial Hall Thursday at 7:30 p.m. He will also be at the Black Tie Cat Fry on Friday.

Treasurer, Ashley Swanson, proposed a revision to the Student Finance Committee, Article K, Section nine stating that representatives in CAB must be present for 75 percent of the meeting. CAB members will be informed as soon as possible about the change, but they are already aware that being present at meetings is required. The proposal was moved and passed for the revision.

More discussion of the open parking and parking fees was brought up. Overall, senators said students were in favor of the open parking policy but not in favor of raising the costs. Also, most students would prefer that only people who have cars on campus have to pay the parking fees.

For first time offenders discussion for a warning was suggested. A few senators were still in favor of the first offense being at $25, second offense at $50 and the third offense at $100 will a cap out at $100 for every offense after. The concept of raising the price each offense was issued and thought it not to be fair under some circumstances.