Twitter
Facebook
Reddit
Digg
Tell us what you think!Send a letter to the editor about this or any other article in The Maine Campus.
During the Oct. 21 meeting of the University of Maine’s General Student Senate, progress reports and dining service research findings were presented — which show it’s cheaper for students to eat out.
Vice President Ross Wolland presented research, compiled in part by the Services committee, to UMaine President Robert Kennedy at the president’s meeting on Oct. 21, which compares prices of fast food restaurants with UMaine Dining Services meals. The findings tout overall yearly savings of $955 for students opting to eat fast food off campus rather than with UMaine dining services.
“He was very pleased that we compiled the information,” Wolland said the day after the meeting. “[Kennedy] plans on reviewing the information with the people at dining.”
Senator James Lyons criticized the research findings.
“In my experience with dining, there is always a reason for why the pricing is the way it is,” Lyons said.
Several senators had visited the Statehouse in Augusta to meet with Gov. John Baldacci, University of Maine System Chancellor Richard Pattenaude and UMaine Government Relations Representative John Lisnik, among others, earlier that day.
“The Chancellor talked with us for quite a while … [we were] encouraged to read the task force report,” said Sen. Rebecca Doty, recalling visits with Maine State Reps. Chellie Pingree and Maine Senate President Libby Mitchell. Student senators were given a tour of the Statehouse.
Sen. Ryan Gavin took part in the trip and said the “exposure to high level officials [will allow us] to get a jump on the issues that will come … and thinking about what an action plan will be.”
Sen. Nate Wildes, chair of the GSS Legislative Relations Board, organized the trip and described the general strategy of those representing the University of Maine System this academic year as being “to keep [their] head low and avoid as many cuts as they can.”
Student Government presidential candidate Brian Harris urged senators to take advantage of the visit’s opportunity.
“I would really encourage everyone to go,” he said. The trip happens once a semester.
Student Body President Owen McCarthy reminded students that Pattenaude will be visiting the Orono campus Oct. 28 from 10:30 a.m. to noon in Minsky Recital Hall for a public forum on the first draft of the restructuring plan.
Senators Anna Assenmacher and Alex Price were inaugurated and Senator Derek Jones was appointed as the Senate History Committee Chair; the Senate History Committee, previously an ad-hoc committee, was voted to continue through the 31st GSS session.
The baseball, cycling, field hockey, tackle football and Society of Women Engineers clubs presented progress reports and voiced appreciation for continued GSS funding and support. The Student Women’s Association reported a successful Take Back the Night event, while Wilde Stein promoted its Coming Out Week which will take place Oct. 26 to Oct. 30.
Sen. Nelson Carson was elected Pro Tempore, the senatorial chair’s replacement or substitute when in debate. Presidential candidates for the upcoming GSS election are Harris, Sen. Zachary Jackman and Wolland; GSS Vice Presidential candidates are Sens. Nyssa Gatcombe and Timothy Smith.
Student Government platform speeches will be held Nov. 3, and election debates will be held Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. in the Memorial Union; a more specific venue has not yet been found. Nov. 12 Student Government elections will be held on FirstClass.
$1,111 was allocated to the UMaine Men’s Rugby Team, while two resolutions were referred to the Policy Procedure Committee: An act to amend the Employment Policies of the University of Maine Student Government, Inc. and an act to amend the UMSG constitutional preamble.
