U. eats up UA's Dining Board plan

Riding on the "success" of the Residential Advisory Board, administrators and Dining Services management approved an Undergraduate Assembly plan last week to create a Dining Advisory Board. UA Vice Chairperson Samara Barend, a College junior, said the idea evolved out of a resolution passed by the UA earlier this month to reinstate the meal redemption system abandoned this year. "Rather than just including the UA and administrators in the process, we thought it'd be more representative if we included students from each of the dining halls on various meal plans to sit on this board and include their suggestions," Barend said. The board, which will also include members of the Dining staff, will probably begin meeting next month. Associate Vice President for Campus Services Larry Moneta predicted that the board will be "just as effective" as RAB. "I really support it," Moneta said. "In general, these services -- dining and housing -- are very student-user sensitive," he added. "It's really important to get as much student voice as possible. As an ideal [inviting student input] is something we always try to do." Dining Services Director Bill Canney said he, too, is "very much in support" of the advisory board. Canney added that he has "no idea" yet of whether a meal redemption plan will emerge from the new board. Also last week, Dining management approved a UA initiative to keep the Class of 1920 Dining Commons open after-hours as a study lounge during reading days and finals. John Henkel, manager of 1920 Commons, said almost 300 students used the space when a similar idea was implemented about three years ago. Henkel said there was no need to continue the program once midnight breakfast opened at Stouffer Dining Commons and Chats opened in 1920 Commons. UA member Sara Shenkan, who presented Henkel with the idea last week, said the idea was partly a security issue. "The library is too far away," the College sophomore said, adding that "when you walk home late at night you don't want to travel alone." Henkel said he thinks the additional study space will get a good response. "But I don't think it'll be as busy as Sara thinks it'll be," he said. "You can never tell what the students are going to like or dislike," he added. "You've got to try everything."