[1919] in Discussion of MIT-community interests
Re: [Mit-talk] [UA-SCATR] New Card initiative
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Steven M Kelch)
Mon Jul 3 12:07:41 2006
Date: Mon, 3 Jul 2006 11:59:44 -0400 (EDT)
From: Steven M Kelch <kelch@mit.edu>
To: Jacob Faber <faber@alum.MIT.EDU>
In-Reply-To: <e9cc53d60607030640j4280531t72d380021725aac@mail.gmail.com>
Cc: reubano@alum.MIT.EDU, "Pius A. Uzamere II" <pius@alum.MIT.EDU>,
ua-scatr@mit.edu, mit-talk@mit.edu
Errors-To: mit-talk-bounces@mit.edu
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SCATR is a very new committee, less than a year old. It has changed=20
slightly in concept, and is still trying to find its niche in the=20
community. It was chartered in December, but the records are a little=20
fuzzy.
It was originally conceived as a facilitator for student/admin=20
communication, and focused on a "get to know the administrators" plan=20
which included interviews of upper level admins. However, students and=20
admins alike seemed disinterested in the direction the committee was=20
going.
Now we focus less on the "relations" part of our name and more on=20
transparency. Students who feel frustrated on administrative committees=20
can come to us for advice, support, or rallying the troops if need be.=20
Likewise, admins can come to us to help clear up miscommunications,=20
facilitate feedback gathering, and whatnot.
In the Fall, I hope to convince the Senate to recharter the committee with=
=20
this new idea in mind.
Steve Kelch
Senate Speaker
SCATR Chair
On Mon, 3 Jul 2006, Jacob Faber wrote:
> 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:
>>=20
>> This is intended to reduce confusion and complaining among parents who=
=20
>> don't
>> understand why we don't have campus-wide meal plans and for some=20
>> reason can't
>> get their heads around the idea of TechCash's declining balance=20
>> system.
>>=20
>> What I think:
>>=20
>> I'd be surprised if this actually reduces confusion. I'd expect it to=
=20
>> cause
>> more, and I said so when I first heard about this. I think it's kind=20
>> of dumb
>> and redundant, but if it creates a justification for not putting in=20
>> mandatory
>> meal plans when the relevant admins are being pressured to put them=20
>> in, that's
>> convenient.
>>=20
>> What I've heard:
>>=20
>> Students will be able to move money from their Dining Dollars account=20
>> to their
>> regular TechCash account, meaning that parents don't actually have=20
>> more
>> control, even if they think they do.
>>=20
>> - Jessie
>>=20
>> Quoting Steven M Kelch <kelch@MIT.EDU>:
>>=20
>> > Hey everyone,
>> >
>> > It's come through the grapevine that there will be an addition to=20
>> the MIT
>> > ID card. In addition to Tech Cash, there will be a new account=20
>> created
>> > that will be "food only". Where Tech Cash can be used at any=20
>> location that
>> > currently accepts it (and, so I hear, possibly a few more being=20
>> 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=20
>> works
>> > and want a simpler plan, or parents who want a little more control=20
>> 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=20
>> few
>> > have expressed concern also that the incoming freshmen will not know=
=20
>> that
>> > the system is optional and that there is an alternative system=20
>> already in
>> > place. On the other hand, the new account will help strengthen=20
>> on-campus
>> > dining, nearly all of which has been steadily losing money.
>> >
>> > It is rumored that a press release from the Dining Office is=20
>> expected. The
>> > system has already been set up, and is expected to go live near the=20
>> first
>> > of August. An informative mailing to the freshmen class is also=20
>> expected,
>> > though whether this is going to happen and what the information is=20
>> going
>> > to be has yet to be confirmed.
>> >
>> > Let me clarify that this information is second hand, and I only want=
=20
>> to
>> > begin a discussion. Additionally, THIS IS NOT AN ATTEMPT TO CREATE A=
=20
>> MEAL
>> > PLAN. The system is completely optional, and is intended as a=20
>> convenience.
>> > Dean of Student Life Larry Benedict has been quoted on numerous=20
>> occasions
>> > that there are no attempts to create meal plans currently in the=20
>> works.
>> >
>> > I bring the issue up because it has met with resistance, and I would=
=20
>> 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=20
>> think that
>> > others will? What benefits/problems do you see? What would you like=20
>> 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
>> >
>>=20
>>=20
>> _______________________________________________
>> MIT-talk mailing list
>> MIT-talk@mit.edu
>> http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/mit-talk
>>=20
>
>
> --=20
> Jacob W. Faber
> Phone: 857.928.2838
>
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