UA suggests more consultation

The Undergraduate Assembly took a stand against the recent agreement outsourcing the management of all University facilities to Trammell Crow Co. and presented a plan to reinstate a meal redemption plan at its meeting Sunday. The group passed the resolutions after a discussion about the body's role in several recent decisions made by the University. Penn administrators created focus groups to discuss the outsourcing plan only after the decision to turn over management of University buildings to Trammell Crow was made, according to UA Chairperson and College junior Noah Bilenker. In response to the "surprise" announcement, UA members drafted a statement reminding the administration of its obligation to consult the body in major decisions affecting student life. The resolution -- which will be submitted to University Trustees and administrators this week -- "strongly urges" Trustees to re-examine the consultative process at the University, and asks that a committee of Trustees, academic administrators, students, faculty and staff be created to advise the administration and the Trustees in future decisions. According to both the UA Constitution and the University's Charter, the UA is "responsible for advocating undergraduate needs in all aspects of University life." But the UA resolution states that the administration has a "history of side-stepping undergraduate input," citing such examples as the discussion of the University City vending ordinance and the delay on the release of information on the General Fee. Although both vending and the General Fee have direct impact on student life, the Trammell Crow decision primarily affects the 175 University employees involved in building management. Students will see the results of the deal in the $32 million in payments from Trammell Crow, which will be used for dormitory improvements over the next 10 years, administrators said when the deal was announced last month. The UA's second resolution calls for a meal redemption plan from Dining Services, an issue the body has discussed since the beginning of the year. The issue was also on the minds of many freshmen candidates who campaigned for UA seats last month. The proposal -- which is being submitted to Dining Services and University administrators this week -- urges the former to reinstate a meal redemption system allowing students on seven or more meals per week to choose between a $50 debit dollars plan or a meal redemption plan. Meals could be redeemed at the Quadrangle's McClelland Marketplace, Chats or the Hill House Pit. Students on seven or more meals that choose the debit dollar option would be given more dollars than those with fewer meals. Currently, Dining Serves provides every student with 50 free dining dollars to use throughout the year, regardless of the student's meal plan. And despite Dining Services' decision last year to end the meal redemption program, its publications for prospective freshmen this summer advertised the redemption option. UA Vice Chairperson Samara Brend -- who co-authored the resolution -- said the system is unequitable, since students on 15 meals per week receive the same number of debit dollars as those on five meals. The College junior admits that Dining Services has been "extremely responsive" to student requests in past years. Dining Services Director Bill Canney even attended a recent UA meeting to listen to student feedback. One UA member suggested the body work alongside with Canney to reinstate the plan, rather than presenting its own idea as a resolution. But Barend confirmed that Canney does not have his own plan to return to meal redemptions in the future. In terms of attendance, Sunday's meeting had a "perfect" showing, according to UA Secretary and College junior Olivia Troye.