Student Union

The Campus Services Committee is working to create dialogue on campus about how to improve dining services related issues we are facing this semester.  We need to increase efficiency on the South 40, extend hours and decrease congestion in the DUC, and find ways to extend Village hours.  However, we need to do these things by paying attention to the budgetary limits that Bon Appetit faces in running 14 cafeterias on campus and providing us with top-notch food.

I am planning to set up an open forum with dining administrators who will listen to students' concerns and have a chance to explain what they are doing to improve campus dining.  They work hard for us, and are trying their best in this difficult transitional year as the South 40 is in limbo.  Watch for when this forum will happen and please attend.

Until then, there are three ways to express your ideas, concerns, and suggestions about dining services.  I also encourage you to read my op-ed in StudLife this week which explains some of the problems Dining Services is facing and what we can do about it: http://www.studlife.com/forum/2009/09/09/ideas-or-opinions-on-campus-dining/

(1) Send an email to dining@su.wustl.edu with your ideas and concerns.  These will be shared with administrators and my committee.  (The email address may not be fully operational until Thursday, 9/10/09)

(2) Twitter about it at WashUDining, password: dining.  Start a conversation there!

(3) Come to a Campus Services Committee meeting on Mondays from 5-6:30 in the SU Conference Room.

I'm looking forward to great, level-headed, creative discussions to spark innovative solutions to the logistical dining problems we are facing this semester.

In the 2009 Student Life Orientation issue, Jeff Nelson urges the incoming freshman to being their WUSTL experience with a "Plan for Spontaneity".

http://www.studlife.com/forum/2009/07/10/plan-for-spontan...

Now, I’m not advising the Class of 2013 to be careless. Each of you should approach your college experience with the necessary thoughtfulness and prudence that has characterized your journey to Wash. U. But I do recommend that you plan for spontaneity by being curious, flexible, and open-minded.

Student Life Orientation issue features article about the upcoming pilot program for WebFood. WebFood has been a Student Union initiative for the past two years. The Montana Administration has made a committment to help with the implementation of WebFood in order to help reduce line congestion in dining areas.

http://www.studlife.com/news/2009/07/10/webfood-online-or...

“If you’re someone that’s frustrated about going to get food and it’s a long line, and you spend most of the time you want to spend with friends waiting in line, you no longer have to do that,” said senior Jeff Nelson, SU president. “Even if you don’t want to use Webfood, you can benefit anyway, because the lines will be shorter.”

This blog post is a response to the Student Life editorial published in the Wednesday, April 15, 2009 issue.

I am very happy that the Student Life editorial board wrote about the Student Union budget in the April 15th issue. While the editorial contribute to a necessary dialogue about the budget, its criticisms are based on infactual information.

First, the editorial suggests that since we are not buying the backpage from Student Life at a cost of over $22,000, we are taking away the ability of student groups to publicize their events. First, Student Union will support student group publicity in a number of ways next year including an all-school calendar, the Student Union website, flyers, and magic box screens around campus at no additional charge.