Volume 120 Issue 4 September 25, 2015
News
Food task force proposed to Senate Brenna Busby Editor-in-Chief
New Concord Area Pool Manager Linda Jones was honored at the last Village Council meeting with an award for 25 years of service.
Arts & Entertainment
The Crumb and Cup added new options to the menu. A chicken salad sandwich on a croissant, as well as numerous cookies and a drink of the week are available.
SPORTS
Muskie Volleyball serves to victory in the 2015 home opener.
to] make better.” Some students living on campus have access to full kitchens where they could make food for themselves more often than the students living in traditional dorms. “Our goal would be to get students that are living in Lakeside Houses or Townhouses the ability to be off of the meal plan,” said Schaumleffel. He spent the summer researching and visiting universities to find information about their food programs and comparing their programs to the program that Muskingum uses. He took interest in their students ability to use their meal swipes at places off campus. Schaumleffel plans to get in contact with The Vice President for Student Affairs, Janet HeeterBass, and potentially President Anne Steele and present them with the information he has collected on the food program. He plans to present the research he has collected, the opinions of students, his petitions, and Student Senate reactions.
Sophomore Class President Jason Schaumleffel has brought a possible task force together in front of Student Senate to delve into the campus food programs. Schaumleffel’s goal is to create a task force to address issues with food on campus instead of a committee. “Everyone on Senate is really busy,” said Schaumleffel. “To form a committee it’s [a] very complex [process] and it takes a lot of time.” During the 2014-2015 academic year Schaumleffel distributed a petition on campus about changing the food program and in four days compiled 1,665 signatures. On Wednesday, Sept. 16, Schaumleffel had a meeting with the Food Service Director, Jodie Swendryck. Topics of discussion included the possibility of meal exchanges in The Winn Cafe, speeding up the lines in The Bait Shop, and healthier food options in general. Schaumleffel attempted to find some middle ground when it comes to food selection. “Trying to figure out what is best for the students in food choices but also in healthier options,” said Schaumleffel. 950-1,000 students are currently enrolled in one of the three meal plans. Each student pays roughly $5,000 for the meal plan. “The food program has about 5 million dollars per year,” said Brenna Busby/ Black & Magenta Schaumleffel. “Our big goal since Barbecue Chicken Calzones are there is a lot of money in it is to one of the fried options available for try to figure out what we can [do purchase in The Bait Shop.
Lindsey Grafe/ Black & Magenta Katie Speed illustrates the lack of student involvement on campus.
Student apathy high on campus Lindsey Grafe Orbit Media Reporter Daniel Barr, the Academic Representative of Student Senate, recently suggested creating a Student Involvement Committee as a way to get students more involved on campus and with Student Senate. “On campus there seems to be a growing disinterest in Student Senate,” said Barr. “To me, that’s kind of scary. That shows a disinterest in our community that we’re trying to build.” Barr cited Socrates’ Café, a monthly discussion group he was part of, as an inspiration. His hope is that a “discussion group” of sorts will give students a judgment-free environment in which they can speak their minds, as well as help forge a better, closer relationship between Student Senate and the students. At the moment, the committee is only an idea, so there is no way to tell when or if it will be formed. “Ideally, I’d like to see it formed before I graduate,” Barr said, “But realistically, probably not.”
The committee itself would be a part of Student Senate and have similar types of meetings as Socrates’ Café. Meetings would be open to all students and residents of the New Concord community. It is intended to be a way to voice complaints or concerns without fear of judgment. “We’re not scary people,” said Barr. He said Student Senate is trying to get students more involved with what senators do. Barr said the committee could be a group on-campus that students and residents in the New Concord area can utilize to voice their opinions. As for the committee, Senate is still trying to gauge student interest in it. Senate holds open meetings every Tuesday at 8 p.m. in Room 304 in the Walter K. Chess Center. For committees to be official, a Student Senate Representative must present the idea to the Executive Board and then other senators must take interest. Barr sent out an email to all of Student Senate on Sept. 9 to see who was interested.