[1916] in Discussion of MIT-community interests
Re: [Mit-talk] [UA-SCATR] New Card initiative
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Jacob Faber)
Mon Jul 3 09:42:22 2006
Date: Mon, 3 Jul 2006 09:40:10 -0400
From: "Jacob Faber" <faber@alum.mit.edu>
To: "Jessica H Lowell" <jessiehl@mit.edu>
In-Reply-To: <20060703032244.o0rg8tolxi8gg808@webmail.mit.edu>
Cc: ua-scatr@mit.edu, mit-talk@mit.edu, reubano@alum.mit.edu,
"Pius A. Uzamere II" <pius@alum.mit.edu>
Reply-To: faber@alum.mit.edu
Errors-To: mit-talk-bounces@mit.edu
This is a longer email than I planned, but I'd like to think i bring
up some good points :)
"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."
I am not surprised to hear that this is how the administration is
rationalizing this potential plan. In reality, this plan is just a
way to subsidize the ridiculous monopoly that is MIT campus dining, as
were the plans that "were not meal plans" implemented in Baker,
Simmons, and Next while I was at MIT. The intention was as obvious
then as it is now.
The complaints from the vendors on campus about losing money and need
subsidy (in the form of the socialist [not that socialism is bad]
programs implemented in Baker, Simmons, Next, etc. or this plan, which
will have the long-term effect of forcing students to only eat on
campus) are completely ridiculous. I always thought that a good way
to make money in any business was to offer a good product at a
reasonable price. The vendors should stop whining and look to improve
their practice.
Imagine if a restaurant in Central Square was losing money and
demanded a tax increase? This is the kind of absurd logic driving MIT
policy.
When these changes started to happen around campus when I was at MIT,
a few students spoke up about how ridiculous this policy stance was.
Don't get stuck with mediocre, over-priced food, which is the
inevitable outcome of such unimaginative policy. Demand
accountability from the vendors and the MIT administration. Remember:
you're paying both of them to serve you, and you shouldn't have to
settle for this.
Good luck with everything, especially keeping MIT honest,
Jacob Faber '04 '06
Former UA Something or Other
PS =96 Is the Student Committee on Administrative Transparency and
Relations a real committee or just something clever to put in a sig?
If it's real, please reply privately, as I'm curious to hear about its
history/makeup/charter/etc.
On 7/3/06, Jessica H Lowell <jessiehl@mit.edu> wrote:
> What I know, having heard it directly from an involved administrator:
>
> This is intended to reduce confusion and complaining among parents who do=
n't
> understand why we don't have campus-wide meal plans and for some reason c=
an'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 ca=
use
> 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 manda=
tory
> meal plans when the relevant admins are being pressured to put them in, t=
hat'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 M=
IT
> > 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 t=
hat
> > 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 th=
at
> > 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 fir=
st
> > of August. An informative mailing to the freshmen class is also expecte=
d,
> > 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 ME=
AL
> > PLAN. The system is completely optional, and is intended as a convenien=
ce.
> > Dean of Student Life Larry Benedict has been quoted on numerous occasio=
ns
> > 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 li=
ke
> > 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 t=
hat
> > 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
> >
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> MIT-talk mailing list
> MIT-talk@mit.edu
> http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/mit-talk
>
-- =
Jacob W. Faber
Phone: 857.928.2838
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