[Vision2020] Fw: UI Considers Making Freshmen Live on Campus

[Sam Scripter]

Ted . . .

How "way cool" to have been introduced to Senator and Mrs. Church!

Also, a lesson in civility there.

Thanks for sharing the story.

Maybe UI needs to go "Back to the Future" re dining services.

You write as if an extra measure of goodness was being offered
by UI dining services in comparison to today's "private sector",
"for profit", contracted services.

Why do I get so frustrated over the battles about whether "services"
[of many kinds] should be run by "government" versus those in "private
enterprise"?

MoscowSam

Ted Moffett wrote:
> The Deakin St. Student Union Building cafeteria, which was used often 
> for more than just eating, but for studying and socializing, was open 
> to serve meals and be a community center till 1-2 AM, at least on 
> Friday and Saturday night, during the later 1960s early 1970s.  I'm 
> certain of this because I worked there during those years.  On Fri. 
> and Sat. nights during those years the place would often be buzzing 
> with activity till late. 
>  
> I agree the current Commons does not offer this kind of environment 
> for students to gather away from dorms, apartments, library, athletic 
> facilities, or bars and commercial restaurants, and the Commons' hours 
> limit its availability, of course. 
>  
> The Student Union Cafeteria at this time was state run, not filled 
> with commercial fast food outlets, just as the university dining 
> services for the dorms, which were later outsourced to the private 
> sector.  Generous meals were offered for a very good price...
>  
> The Student Union Cafeteria and associated food services at this time 
> were more sophisticated than you might think, serving advanced cuisine 
> to large formal banquets, with VIPs sometimes in attendance, at 
> numerous tables in the Student Union "ballroom," I think they called 
> it then.  This required a rather large staff of cooks, waiters, 
> kitchen helpers, set-up and clean up crews, etc.  We dressed up in 
> fancy waiters apparel, supplied by the Student Union Building food 
> services, for the whole routine of serving meals from appetizer to 
> desert, beverages , etc. 
>  
> Once I waited on a table seating US Senator Frank Church and his wife, 
> and was graciously in person introduced by name to both of them, at 
> their request...
>  
> Ted Moffett
>
> On Thu, Aug 20, 2009 at 4:06 PM, Kenneth Marcy <kmmos1 at verizon.net 
> <mailto:kmmos1 at verizon.net>> wrote:
>
>
>     But students have lost a comfortable place to have a cup of coffee, to
>     socialize, and to study that is away from their primary residence
>     location or
>     the library (which isn't supposed to be for socializing, anyway).
>     In other
>     words, the students have lost the Student Union Building, which is
>     now an
>     administrative complex. Yes, I know about the Commons, that add-on
>     to the
>     eastern side of the University Classroom Center that has all of
>     the ambiance
>     of a jet airliner repair and refurbishment hanger, without the
>     resident jets.
>     Since the food vendors seem to be able, effectively, to shut down
>     the place
>     when their cash flows dwindle, the general purpose, high-ceiling
>     barn portion
>     of the facility is of limited use as an escape from dorms and
>     cafeterias.
>
>     > I also think it is easier to create a community among students
>     if there is
>     > some proximity and some gentle help available (through residence
>     hall
>     > advisers and even in-house faculty who sometimes live in
>     residence halls at
>     > some institutions.
>
>     I think you're correct in this assessment. However, I do feel the
>     experience
>     could be even better with more flexible space available on-campus for
>     non-classroom, non-dining activities that are not of a gymnastic
>     or athletic
>     nature. Some sort of combination of spaces representing a
>     community living
>     rooms, community dens, and community meeting spaces not "owned"
>     or "controlled" by one living group or another, or the
>     "administration," it
>     seems to me, would be a valuable addition to encourage a variety of
>     activities not necessarily affiliated with a particular residence
>     group. In
>     other words, it would be nice to have a New Student Union back for
>     students.
>
>      
>
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