[1913] in Discussion of MIT-community interests
Re: [Mit-talk] [UA-SCATR] New Card initiative
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Jessica H Lowell)
Mon Jul 3 03:26:58 2006
Date: Mon, 03 Jul 2006 03:22:44 -0400
From: Jessica H Lowell <jessiehl@mit.edu>
To: Steven M Kelch <kelch@mit.edu>
In-Reply-To: <Pine.LNX.4.62L.0607021523370.16993@ptolomaea.mit.edu>
Cc: ua-scatr@mit.edu, mit-talk@mit.edu
Errors-To: mit-talk-bounces@mit.edu
What I know, having heard it directly from an involved administrator:
This is intended to reduce confusion and complaining among parents who don't
understand why we don't have campus-wide meal plans and for some reason can't
get their heads around the idea of TechCash's declining balance system.
What I think:
I'd be surprised if this actually reduces confusion. I'd expect it to cause
more, and I said so when I first heard about this. I think it's kind of dumb
and redundant, but if it creates a justification for not putting in mandatory
meal plans when the relevant admins are being pressured to put them in, that's
convenient.
What I've heard:
Students will be able to move money from their Dining Dollars account to their
regular TechCash account, meaning that parents don't actually have more
control, even if they think they do.
- Jessie
Quoting Steven M Kelch <kelch@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
> _______________________________________________
> ua-scatr mailing list
> ua-scatr@mit.edu
> http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/ua-scatr
>
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