Spring Break
USGA hosts 'Town Hall'
Janhavi Purohit
Issue date: 2/27/09 Section: News
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The Town Hall, second in a series to be hosted by the USGA, allowed students to bring their concerns and complaints to the forefront.
Rita LaRue Gollotti, senior associate vice president of Business Services, provided an update on campus dining options as well as the expansion of dining services. Gollotti said work on the new Dining Terrace is underway and on schedule. In terms of new projects, dining services, along with the Office of the Provost, is looking into work on the library café, including the introduction of a Taco Bell Express.
"We really wanted to bring in something that would serve the student population better," Gollotti said. "Not since the Starbucks in Pearlstein have we had such positive feedback on a food concept."
In response to a student query on improving the flexibility of meal plans, Gollotti said there will be more flexibility, including the introduction of a Platinum meal plan, which will include unlimited trips to the Handschumacher Dining Center, $550 in Ultima funds, five passes for friends and a surprise pack every term. Gollotti said the school is also looking into implementing a new "block" plan, which will give students 100 meals per term, with the choice to use those meals to bring friends to the dining hall.
Peter Franks, executive director and associate vice provost of the Steinbright Career Development Center, addressed student concerns about loss of employment on co-op jobs, saying though the economy is suffering, students can be confident in keeping their jobs and finding new ones.
"I want to reassure you that regarding the cooperative education program, we are continuing to do very well," Franks said.
According to Franks, Steinbright is currently working with about 1,600 employers across 22 countries.
"We are holding the vast majority of the jobs we normally have in the spring and summer co-op cycle," Franks said.
Franks suggested students attend workshops hosted by the Steinbright center for more information and guidance regarding co-op jobs and student concerns. Franks recommended that students learn more about their co-op jobs and the companies they are looking into, as well as approaching employment with a broad view.
"Think about industry instead of just company," Franks said. "It's important to do more in the challenging and competitive job market situation that us and the world live in."
According to Franks, students can be secure in their jobs because employers are interested in the talent, ideas and fresh perspective students bring into co-op jobs.
Vice president of Facilities Robert Francis provided an update on construction, saying it is all under progress and on schedule, with the new residence hall scheduled to open next fall, the expanded recreation center this December, and the integrated sciences building in about 26 months.
Francis also addressed concerns about overcrowding in the library, and said the facilities department is looking into creating new study spaces across campus. There is currently a 24/7 study area in Bossone, with two more spaces in design in that building, along with three in the Academic building and several spaces for the Center City campus.
These areas are all going to be designed according to different styles of study; for example, the "kitchen style," which, according to Francis, necessitates spaces for spreading out study materials.
Senior associate vice president of Public Safety Domenic Ceccanecchio said the new police force is currently in orientation and will be patrolling on campus by mid-March. There are currently eight officers and two supervisors hired, with public safety looking to expand the force further.
Some of the complaints reported by students included the economy and its effect on co-op jobs, as well as construction on campus.
"Expansion and growth is a wonderful thing," Ruth said. "But this is one of the consequences. It's a good dilemma, but it's a bad dilemma."
The next town hall meeting is scheduled for next term. The date and venue have yet to be announced.
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