[1905] in Discussion of MIT-community interests
[Mit-talk] New Card initiative
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Steven M Kelch)
Sun Jul 2 15:49:36 2006
Date: Sun, 2 Jul 2006 15:49:08 -0400 (EDT)
From: Steven M Kelch <kelch@mit.edu>
To: mit-talk@mit.edu
Cc: ua-scatr@mit.edu
Errors-To: mit-talk-bounces@mit.edu
Hey everyone,
It's come through the grapevine that there will be an addition to the MIT
ID card. In addition to Tech Cash, there will be a new account created
that will be "food only". Where Tech Cash can be used at any location that
currently accepts it (and, so I hear, possibly a few more being added),
this new "food only" account will be accepted at places that sell
only food items. This means that the Coop, La Verdes, and
student groups that accept Tech Cash for ticket sales are excluded.
The primary motivation for the creation of this account seems to be
appeasing parents who are either confused about the way Tech Cash works
and want a simpler plan, or parents who want a little more control over
the way their child spends the money they put into the account. Many
students that I have talked to feel that the system is redundant. A few
have expressed concern also that the incoming freshmen will not know that
the system is optional and that there is an alternative system already in
place. On the other hand, the new account will help strengthen on-campus
dining, nearly all of which has been steadily losing money.
It is rumored that a press release from the Dining Office is expected. The
system has already been set up, and is expected to go live near the first
of August. An informative mailing to the freshmen class is also expected,
though whether this is going to happen and what the information is going
to be has yet to be confirmed.
Let me clarify that this information is second hand, and I only want to
begin a discussion. Additionally, THIS IS NOT AN ATTEMPT TO CREATE A MEAL
PLAN. The system is completely optional, and is intended as a convenience.
Dean of Student Life Larry Benedict has been quoted on numerous occasions
that there are no attempts to create meal plans currently in the works.
I bring the issue up because it has met with resistance, and I would like
a discussion so that concerns can be raised and addressed. What are
people's thoughts? Will you use the system? Even if not, do you think that
others will? What benefits/problems do you see? What would you like the
students and admins close to this project to know?
(SCATR)
Student Committee on Administrative Transparency and Relations
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