[1928] in Discussion of MIT-community interests
Re: [Mit-talk] [UA-SCATR] New Card initiative
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Jacob Faber)
Mon Jul 3 13:15:10 2006
Resent-To: mit-talk@mit.edu
Resent-From: John Hawkinson <jhawk@mit.edu>
Date: Mon, 3 Jul 2006 12:25:18 -0400
From: "Jacob Faber" <jacob.faber@gmail.com>
To: "Steven M Kelch" <kelch@mit.edu>
In-Reply-To: <Pine.LNX.4.62L.0607031144140.16993@ptolomaea.mit.edu>
Cc: reubano@alum.mit.edu, ua-scatr@mit.edu,
"Pius A. Uzamere II" <pius@alum.mit.edu>, mit-talk@mit.edu
Errors-To: mit-talk-bounces@mit.edu
So this is a UA committee? If so, I would push for Institute or
Presidential committee status with a mixed membership of
students/staff/faculty/admins. The problem with UA committees that
deal with admins is that admins will usually just give students the
run-around until a policy is at a stage where it is too late to really
be changed. This is especially true when dealing with controversial
subjects. I can remember specifically when I was in the UA and we
were in a fight with admins about orientation/rush issues, the admins
used this tactic. They would tell different committees and different
governments (UA, DormCon, IFC, etc.) different, and often conflicting
information. This is similar to the GOP's various strategies to pit
various minority communities against each other. But anyways...It was
not until the heads of these governments came together and actually
demanded transparency and input did any change really happen.
That was somewhat a long and rambling story, but the just of it is
this: a committee really dedicated to improving transparency could be
a fantastic accomplishment. It's too often that the admins spring
some unacceptable policy on the student body, which they have actually
been planning for months/years, and claim they got "student input" by
talking to a couple of students or a UA committee at the 11th hour.
I realize this sounds like a bash on UA committees, but it is far from
it. My point is that with such an important issue like policy
transparency, it's useful to get a wide array of voices (and most
importantly ears) at the table. Every community can benefit from
this, and while a unilateral effort is a good first step, the next
leap should be to involve a more diverse (in terms of constituency)
group of leaders. Also, Institute or Presidential status does add
significantly more oomph to the work the committee does and improves
longevity.
On 7/3/06, Steven M Kelch <kelch@mit.edu> wrote:
> SCATR is a very new committee, less than a year old. It has changed
> slightly in concept, and is still trying to find its niche in the
> community. It was chartered in December, but the records are a little
> fuzzy.
>
> It was originally conceived as a facilitator for student/admin
> communication, and focused on a "get to know the administrators" plan
> which included interviews of upper level admins. However, students and
> admins alike seemed disinterested in the direction the committee was
> going.
>
> Now we focus less on the "relations" part of our name and more on
> transparency. Students who feel frustrated on administrative committees
> can come to us for advice, support, or rallying the troops if need be.
> Likewise, admins can come to us to help clear up miscommunications,
> facilitate feedback gathering, and whatnot.
>
> In the Fall, I hope to convince the Senate to recharter the committee with
> 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:
> >>
> >> 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
> >> >
> >>
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> 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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>
>
-- =
Jacob W. Faber
Phone: 857.928.2838
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